Mr Austin told a House appropriations subcommittee hearing that the Defence Department’s proposed $715 billion budget would include money to help the military develop ways to prevent attacks against the US by terrorist groups in Afghanistan. With the budget set to be released on Friday, he provided few specifics to committee members asking about spending priorities. US commanders have said they will monitor and counter threats from Al Qaeda and ISIS from outside Afghanistan after US forces leave. Militants are expected to try to regroup after US and coalition troops depart. So far, officials have acknowledged that the US does not yet have any agreements for bases or to use airspace with any of the countries neighbouring Afghanistan.