This is noteworthy because it is customary for American troops to have their rifles in hand when the US Defense Secretary addresses them.
The explanation given by officials is that the soldiers were ordered to leave their rifles behind to be “consistent with the Afghans.”
This may display a lack of trust of senior US officials in American soldiers.
Panetta began his two-day visit after landing at the Camp Bastion military base on Wednesday.
During the visit, the Pentagon chief is scheduled to meet US soldiers and commanders, as well as Afghan government officials.
The visit comes after a US trooper on Sunday opened fire on Afghan civilians inside their homes in the district of Panjwaii in the southern province of Kandahar, killing more than 16 of them and injuring several others.
HSH/JR/HGH
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