India has performed a constructive function in Afghanistan prior to now, the Pentagon acknowledged on Monday.
“India has played a constructive role in Afghanistan in terms of training and other infrastructure improvements in the past,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby informed reporters at his each day information convention.
When requested about India-US cooperation on Afghanistan, he stated, “That kind of work, that kind of effort to help Afghanistan maintain stability and good governance is always welcome.”
Responding to a query, Kirby stated the United States was persevering with talks with the Pakistani management about secure havens alongside that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We are cautious that these secure havens are solely offering a supply of extra insecurity and extra instability inside Afghanistan. We don’t shrink back from having such discussions with Pakistani leaders.
“We are also wary that Pakistan and the Pakistani people are also victims of terrorist activities emanating from that region. Therefore, we all have a shared sense of the importance of closing those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban or other terrorist networks to stitch up discord,” Kirby stated.
“And again, we are in talks with Pakistanis all the time,” he stated.
He stated Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shares the priority of the worldwide neighborhood concerning the safety state of affairs in Afghanistan which is clearly not getting in the best path.
“The secretary believes that the Afghan forces have the potential, they have the potential to make a big difference on the battlefield,” he stated.
“They have said that we will continue to support them with authority where and when possible, understanding that this is not always going to be possible. But where and when it is possible, for example, support them with air strikes. Will continue to do so,” he stated.
“Secondly we are focused as we must be directed by the President, we are focused on completing the drawdown by the end of the month and transitioning to a different bilateral relationship with Afghan forces Which will be one of the support, financial and logistical maintenance support from outside the country. That’s the focus, that’s what we are driving,” he stated.
Kirby stated the Taliban was making progress. “No question. The Afghans have the capability. They have the capability. They have a capable air force,” he stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
