US COMMITTED TO AFGHANISTAN LONG-TERM - CLINTON

11.05.2010 [23:35]
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Baku, May 11 (AZERTAC). US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told Afghan leader Hamid Karzai the US will remain committed to Afghan security long after US troops leave, according to BBC.

Mr. Karzai is in the US for four days of talks aimed at repairing rocky relations between Kabul and Washington.

They both acknowledged their differences had complicated efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

Mr. Karzai is due to meet President Barack Obama on Wednesday and concludes his visit on Thursday.

“We will not abandon the Afghan people. Our civilian commitment will remain long into the future,” Mrs. Clinton said.

“The ability to disagree on issues of importance to our respective countries and peoples is not an obstacle to achieving our shared objectives,” she added.

“Rather, it reflects a level of trust that is essential to any meaningful dialogue and enduring strategic partnership.”

Mr. Karzai thanked the US for its contribution since defeating the Taliban at the end of 2001.

But he also said international forces in his country must do more to avoid civilian casualties.

“As two mature nations and two mature governments - by now the Afghan government is mature, too - we will be having disagreements from time to time,” Mr. Karzai said.

US COMMITTED TO AFGHANISTAN LONG-TERM - CLINTON

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