Saturday December 15, 2012
Kabul (BNA) US Defense Secretary, Lion Panetta following meeting with President Hamid Karzai told a press conference expressed strong support of the US and international communities to Afghanistan.
He added that our commitments towards Afghanistan is continuous, and the strategic treat signed between the presidents of the two countries indicates that the US will not leave Afghanistan alone and shall ensure its presence here after the 2014 as well.
He added that we have learned from the history and both countries are currently working on the security agreement and this document will define our commitments and conditions for long-term presence.
He noted that President Obama has invited President of the coming year to discuss the security agreement between them.
This invitation has been offered in September through the video conference between the two presidents when they decided that they will discuss some important issue in Washington.
The stressed further that today I want to convey my government’s strong support to Afghanistan for taking over of security responsibility and for their will in administering their nation, and this is what around 49 countries together are struggling for realizing this indeed.
We intend to assist the Afghanistan security forces so they can take full security of their nation and this the strategy that the US and the international community always supported it.
He added that we emphasize on the leadership development plan making, logistical and procurement spheres of the Afghan forces so they are trained in these areas and carry on complicated operations.
He noted that we are working jointly with Pakistan so that we will be successful in elimination of the hideouts of the terrorists in the Pakistan territory.
He called President Karzai a popular leader and added that US respects President Karzai for he was able to save Afghanistan for three decades of war.
President Karzai welcomed Lion Panetta and called a friend of Afghanistan and said that their meeting ended in very sincere atmosphere and they discussed strategic cooperation, security agreement, US prisoners in Afghanistan, strengthening of national army and empowerment of the security forces.
Answering a question the Lion Panetta said that though we are going to reduce our forces in Afghanistan after 2014, but we shall continue our strong support to Afghanistan.
He added that he has talked with Pakistani authorities on the hideouts of the terrorists inside that country and has told them that it is Pakistan’s responsibility to take measures in this respect.
He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the international community to put continued pressure on Pakistan to eliminate the hideouts of the terrorists.
Answering a question president Karzai said that if in the US security treaty its forces’ judicial security is important, the sovereignty of Afghanistan, training and strengthening of the Afghan forces and the existence of foreign prisons and their closure is also important for the people of Afghanistan.
When the conditions of the Afghan are accepted, I will refer to my people and I shall take the security of the US forces with them.
