US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved a new command structure in Afghanistan that includes the transition of US military mission from warfighting to two new objectives: protecting a continuing US diplomatic presence in Kabul and maintaining liaison with the Afghan military, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.

The plan calls for the top US and NATO forces commander in Afghanistan, General Scott Miller, to transfer his combat authorities to the head of US Central Command, Marine General Frank McKenzie.

"General Miller will remain in theater in coming weeks to prepare for and to complete the turnover of these duties and responsibilities to General McKenzie," Kirby said. "Importantly, General McKenzie will retain all existing authorities as Commander of US Forces in Afghanistan."

He said Gen. McKenzie will continue to exercise authority over the conduct of any counter-terrorism operations needed to protect the homeland from threats emanating out of Afghanistan.

The Associated Press reported that a two-star navy admiral will head a US Embassy-based military office, dubbed US Forces Afghanistan-Forward, to oversee the new mission of providing security for the embassy and its diplomats.

A satellite military office based in Qatar and headed by a US one-star general will be established to administer US financial support for the Afghan military and police, plus maintenance support provided for Afghan aircraft from outside Afghanistan.

The US military has already left the Bagram air base outside Kabul and handed it over to Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

At its peak, the airfield, located 69 kilometers north of Kabul in the central province of Parwan, saw more than 100,000 US troops pass through its compound.

(SAM)