US sec. of state restates commitment to Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made an unannounced trip to capital Kabul on Monday during which he met President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

Tillerson and Ghani reaffirmed the U.S.-Afghan commitment to achieving peace, stability, and long-term prosperity in Afghanistan, the U.S. Embassy said in an official communique.

It quoted Tillerson as saying that the new U.S. strategy for South Asia makes clear the United States’ commitment to working with the government of Afghanistan and with partners across the region to achieve peace in Afghanistan and deny safe havens to terrorists who threaten that goal.

According to a U.S. Air Forces Central Command report, the Donald Trump administration targeted the Taliban and Daesh groups with 751 airstrikes in September alone.

This is a clear indication of mounting air offensives after the announcement of new war strategy for the country in August.

Ghani, who has hailed the new U.S. strategy, assured the visiting Secretary of State Tillerson that the people and government of Afghanistan support the new U.S. strategy to create a secure environment and to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan, the region and the world.

“I am accountable to my people, and in line with their needs we would take joint measures for ensuring security and success of the new U.S. strategy,” the president was quoted as saying during the meeting according to a statement issued from the presidential palace.

Ghani and Tillerson are scheduled to visit India, a major U.S. ally for the new strategy in Afghanistan, on Tuesday.