Afghan minister: We'll need U.S. help after 2014

Afghanistan will need help from the United States after a planned withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2014, Afghanistan's defense minister said Wednesday.

Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak made the comment to Defense Secretary Robert Gates during a visit to the Pentagon in Washington.

"It will need your help beyond 2014," Wardak said.

Gates complimented Afghanistan for taking what he called an increasingly leading role in their security.

President Barack Obama has announced plans to begin withdrawing some troops from Afghanistan this July, with all U.S. combat troops scheduled to be out of Afghanistan by 2014.