Analysts view Ghani’s US trip as a success

KABUL (Pajhwok): Some political analysts say President Ashraf Ghani has won an assurance of assistance from the Unites States during his visit. However, they believe, Ghani could not get stout US promises that were expected.

Ghani and High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Chairman Dr. Abdullah Abdullah — accompanied by a high-level delegation — traveled to US on Thursday. They met congressmen, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden.

Biden promised to continue its full diplomatic, economic and military assistance to support peaceful and stable Afghanistan.

Ghani said the US had assured support to the Afghan Air Force, the stay of foreign contractors and cooperation in a number of other areas.

Shahzad Massoud, a political analyst, said Ghani’s trip came at a crucial time as some US intelligence sources had warned the Afghan government would collapse once the foreign troops left.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the president met his US counterpart and others during the visit. He was assured that the US would continue to provide economic, military and political assistance to Afghanistan even after the pullout of troops.

Massoud called American assurances a good morale-booster for the Afghan security forces, who were facing increased attacks from the Taliban amid the ongoing exit of foreign troops.

Mohammad Ashraf Haidari, Afghan ambassador to Sri Lanka, also viewed Ghani’s visit as fruitful, saying American officials had promised him long-term cooperation with Afghanistan.

He said the opening of the new chapter in Afghanistan’s relations with the US was crucial and all American officials highlighted it during the visit.

Haidari characterised Biden’s commitment to long-term political, economic and security cooperation with Afghanistan as an integral part of the new chapter.

But Nasratullah Haqpal, another political commentator, opined the presidential visit did not go beyond expectations and was a repetition of previous vows.

He said it remained unclear whether there had been a behind-the-scenes agreement. What has been reported so far represents a mere reiteration of the same old promises and statements, according to him.

Mahboob Shah Mahboob, director of cultural affairs at the Administrative Affairs Office, said the US and the international community had been convinced that national and a political consensus had been reached on protecting democratic values and that Afghans were united in defending them.

sa/mud