Stay committed to Afghan mission, US urges allies

WASHINGTON (Pajhwok): US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday asked NATO.

“We recognise the important contributions of our NATO allies that have been made in Afghanistan, and we ask them to maintain their commitment to the mission,” Tillerson said.

In a major foreign policy speech, he said the end state of America’s new South Asia strategy was to destroy terrorist safe havens and deny their re-establishment.

Additionally, the Afghan government has to strengthen its capacity to maintain security and create the conditions for reconciliation with the Taliban,

He also supported an inclusive government in Kabul that accounted for the ethnic diversity of all Afghans.

“We know this will take time. But if we fail to exercise vigilance and undertake action against the terrorist threat, wherever it is found, we risk recreating the safe havens from which the 9/11 plot was hatched and carried out,” he warned.

As such, Tillerson urged NTO for proportionate contributions of troops, funds and other forms of assistance to eradicate the terrorist threat that would not be confined to the place where it was born.

“NATO's Resolute Support mission is essential to our shared goal of ensuring that Afghanistan develops the capability to contribute to regional stability and prevail on terrorist threats, including Al- Qaida and ISIS,” Tillerson said.

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