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Defense Secretary Austin reaffirms US commitment to Afghanistan
The US has reiterated its commitment to continuing to provide critical security assistance to the Afghan forces amid escalating Taliban violence in the country.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin in a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Washington stated: “The United States remains committed to continuing to provide critical security assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).”
This comes as the US speeds up its withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, aimed at ending the country’s longest war.
“We will make the transition or new relationship with Afghanistan and the Afghan forces one that continues to help you meet your responsibilities to your citizens,” Austin told Ghani.
“We remain partners with the Afghan government and the Afghan military and we will continue to work toward our common goals in new and different ways,” he stressed.
President Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Vice President Amrullah Saleh, National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, and a number of Afghan officials are visiting Washington in an official invitation by US President Joe Biden.
Ghani has met with a number of US officials including US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday.
“The decision of President Biden has been a strategic decision,” Ghani told reporters during his visit to the US Capitol.
“We respect that decision in dealing with the new chapter of our friendship, our strategic relationship and our people to people relationship and government to government relationship,” Ghani said.
Ghani emphasized for the need of US assistance to the Afghan government and the people of Afghanistan after withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.
“I looking very much forward to discussion of detail in your assistance today in the humanitarian area for the people of Afghanistan who are facing the challenges of COVID-19 the third wave, a drought, and displacement because of the brutal attacks of the Taliban will be essential,” Ghani said.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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