KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Italy’s prime minister pledged Sunday not to abandon Afghanistan as his country pulls out its troops, saying Rome will “transform” its support but not leave altogether.

Mario Monti met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Italian troops during the visit. Italy currently has about 3,500 troops in Afghanistan, most in the west of the country, and those are scheduled to leave by the end of 2014.

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