WASHINGTON: The United States should maintain enough troops in Afghanistan to stabilise the Afghan government after more than a decade of conflict, House Speaker John Boehner said on Tuesday.

A statement issued by his office quoted Mr Boehner as saying that “far too many” Americans have “made the ultimate sacrifice or suffered life-changing wounds in the last 12 years” to ensure that Afghanistan “can never again be used as a safe-haven for terrorists to attack the United States.”

Now that the Afghans were poised to elect a new government, “we must honour the sacrifices of the Americans and Afghans who have given so much to reach this point and continue our work together.”

Afghans voted this month for a new president to replace Hamid Karzai. Early returns indicate a close race between former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.

Mr Boehner arrived in Aghanistan this week with a delegation of senior lawmakers to assess the political process, the security situation and the transition of American forces after more than a decade. On Monday, Mr Boehner’s delegation met US Ambassador James B. Cunningham and Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, who commands US forces in Afghanistan.