(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) (Pajhwok): US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah on Monday after he arrived on an unannounced visit to , a statement said.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said Tillerson and US General John Nicholson, the top American commander in Afghanistan, remained with President Ghani and Abdullah for about one hour at the Bagram Air Field outside Kabul.
National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar and some other high-level government officials were also present at the meeting.
Both the sides discussed key points such as economic matters, regional cooperation, peace process and combating terrorism, the statement said.
It quoted President Ashraf Ghani as saying the new US strategy had brought 'positive changes' in the region, asking all the allies to support the strategy. 'We are accountable to the Afghanistan people and will take measures for ensuring security through the strategy keeping in view our people's needs.'
President Ghani reiterated the unity government's commitment to reforms aimed at ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of all Afghans.
Meanwhile, CEO Abdullah for his part said regional countries should sense the change and all of them should work for economic development and peace.
Tillerson said his country was making efforts towards implementing the US strategy on Afghanistan.
The secretary said the new US strategy for South Asia makes clear the United States' commitment to working with the government of Afghanistan and partners across the region to achieve peace in Afghanistan and deny safe havens to terrorists who threaten that goal.
President Ghani and Tillerson will visit India on Tuesday (tomorrow) and meet Indian authorities and discuss Afghanistan.
It is Tillerson's first trip to Afghanistan as a top US official as part of a weeklong visit to parts of the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. Tillerson stopped in Afghanistan on his way to his scheduled visit to .
Tillerson is expected to have a stronger tone in Pakistan with interim Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi, after US President Donald Trump threatened Pakistan with sanctions for allegedly offering "safe havens" to terrorists.
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