KABUL (SW): The U.S. Embassy Special Chargé d'Affaires Ambassador Hugo Llorens has said Washington would maintain pressure on the Taliban to join peace process in Afghanistan in line with the new strategy announced by President Donald Trump a day earlier.
Talking to a group of journalists at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, he said the new strategy makes the US commitment to Afghanistan very clear. “We will emphasis with all regional countries on the importance of cooperation to reduce the threat of terrorism and nuclearized conflict”, he said. Ambassador Llorens added under the new strategy the U.S. would strengthen its support for the Afghan government and security forces in the fight against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, ISIS and other insurgents and terrorists.
“Afghanistan will have new tools and expertise to secure its territory and make all of Afghanistan a safe place for its citizens”, he said, adding the U.S. would shift from a time-based approach of determining troops level to one based on conditions on the ground.
“We will integrate all instruments of U.S. power diplomatic, economic, military and intelligence toward achieving the ultimate goal of reaching a political settlement that protects the U.S. and Afghanistan’s vital interests”, he said. The Ambassador urged upon the Taliban to choose between continuing to kill and terrorise fellow Afghans or seek reconciliation and end the war.
The U.S. Ambassador also announced full backing for President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani’s four-year plan while hailing his partnership with Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdulla for progress made by the National Unity Government (NUG) so far.
He also stressed that Pakistan has much to lose by failing to take adequate steps to counter terrorist groups based on its soil.
ENDS
