(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) KABUL (Pajhwok): Washinton would maintain pressure on the Taliban to join a peace process with the Afghan government to end the war and would continue to support Afghan forces in defending their country, the US Embassy said.
"We will remove the incentives for hedging behavior by some that leads to support for the Taliban, and we will emphasise with all regional countries the importance of cooperation to reduce the threat of terrorism and nuclearised conflict," it added.
In a statement on President Donald Trump's new Afghan policy, US Special Charg̩ d۪Affaires Ambassador Hugo Llorens said the plan was based on conditions on the ground, not shifting timelines.
"So just understand, the US is not going anywhere and we will continue to partner with the government of national unity and the Afghan people in our common fight against terrorists and those forces unwilling to reconcile."
On Monday evening, Trump spoke to the American people and the world about his government€™s new strategy and renewed commitment to success in Afghanistan and in the broader South Asia region.
The US diplomat in Kabul said: "Let us be clear: in order to achieve real progress, the Afghan government must redouble its reform efforts and deliver on vital promises.
The commitments include parliamentary elections next year and the presidential ballot in 2019, rooting out corruption, and enacting the tough reforms necessary for meaningful private sector-led economic growth.
To maintain stability in the face of insurgent threats, Afghanistan€™s leaders must also increase outreach to all ethnic groups and seek greater diversity and inclusivity in the government, he stressed.
"As I have said previously on many occasions, we and our allies are firmly with you, and we are not going anywhere. And as President Trump said, €œWe are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan people how to live or how to govern their own complex society..."
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