US: Afghanistan is vital non-NATO ally
Source: Agencies |
July 8, 2012, Sunday
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THE Obama administration yesterday declared Afghanistan the United States' newest "major non-NATO ally," an action designed to facilitate close defense cooperation after US combat troops withdraw from the country in 2014 and as a political statement of support for Afghanistan's long-term stability.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the announcement shortly after arriving in the country for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"We see this as a powerful commitment to Afghanistan's future," she said at a news conference in the grand courtyard of Kabul's Presidential Palace. "We are not even imagining abandoning Afghanistan."
Clinton insisted that progress was coming incrementally but consistently to the war-torn nation after decades of conflict. "The security situation is more stable," she said. Afghan forces "are improving their capacity."
At the news conference, Karzai welcomed Clinton to Kabul and thanked the US for its continued support.
'Fight, talk, build'
Clinton repeated the tenets of America's "fight, talk, build" strategy for Afghanistan. The goal aims first to defeat dangerous extremists, win over Taliban militants and others willing to give up violence and help in the long reconstruction of Afghanistan ahead.
Fighting still rages as Afghan and US-led coalition forces battle insurgents in the mostly eastern part of the country. Although casualties have fallen among foreign forces as the US and other nations begin a gradual withdrawal, 215 coalition soldiers were killed in the first six months of the year - compared to 271 in the same period last year.
Reconciliation efforts haven't gained steam, but Clinton said she was pleased to be meeting the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan together in Tokyo - a three-way relationship seen as key to stabilizing Afghanistan.
From Kabul, Clinton and Karzai were heading separately to Japan for a global conference on Afghan civilian assistance. Donors were expected to pledge around US$4 billion a year in long-term civilian support.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the announcement shortly after arriving in the country for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
"We see this as a powerful commitment to Afghanistan's future," she said at a news conference in the grand courtyard of Kabul's Presidential Palace. "We are not even imagining abandoning Afghanistan."
Clinton insisted that progress was coming incrementally but consistently to the war-torn nation after decades of conflict. "The security situation is more stable," she said. Afghan forces "are improving their capacity."
At the news conference, Karzai welcomed Clinton to Kabul and thanked the US for its continued support.
'Fight, talk, build'
Clinton repeated the tenets of America's "fight, talk, build" strategy for Afghanistan. The goal aims first to defeat dangerous extremists, win over Taliban militants and others willing to give up violence and help in the long reconstruction of Afghanistan ahead.
Fighting still rages as Afghan and US-led coalition forces battle insurgents in the mostly eastern part of the country. Although casualties have fallen among foreign forces as the US and other nations begin a gradual withdrawal, 215 coalition soldiers were killed in the first six months of the year - compared to 271 in the same period last year.
Reconciliation efforts haven't gained steam, but Clinton said she was pleased to be meeting the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan together in Tokyo - a three-way relationship seen as key to stabilizing Afghanistan.
From Kabul, Clinton and Karzai were heading separately to Japan for a global conference on Afghan civilian assistance. Donors were expected to pledge around US$4 billion a year in long-term civilian support.
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