Sen. Sanders: Afghanistan is a backward country

Afghanistan "is one of the most backward countries in the entire world," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in an interview with WXAX, a Vermont news station, on Wednesday.

"It is one of the most backward countries in the entire world," said Sanders. "Massive poverty, great deal of illiteracy, corruption; it's not an easy place in which to work."

Sanders had just returned from a 5-day fact-finding tour of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday. He was joined by Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.),  Chris Coons (D-Del.), and and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.).

In the interview Sanders also said he thought the U.S. should scale back its war efforts in the region.

"We are spending a whole lot of money on U.S. military; we're spending a whole lot of money on the Afghan military, on the Afghan police and the economic development," said Sanders. I think we can cut back."