Trump won’t pull U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Ghani says after NATO Summit

July 15, 2018 - 10:17

TEHRAN _ After their meeting at the NATO Summit, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he does not believe U.S. President Donald Trump will withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, where the U.S. in involved in the longest and disastrous war in its history.

The world leaders deliberated on various issues at the summit and agreed to continue their engagement in the war-ravaged country through 2024, even with little or no gains.

“Today, we also decided to sustain our presence in Afghanistan until conditions indicate a change is appropriate,” the leaders said in a joint statement.

Speaking to media after the summit, Ghani said Afghanistan is a “subject of consensus, not a subject of dissent.”  “There was uniform support across the board. Support will be extended to 2024.” Ghani said, adding that the support included backing for the current effort for peace and recent ceasefire with the Taliban.

“So I’m delighted to say that, contrary to the past where there was question of this dialogue between Afghans and the international community, now it’s a real dialogue, it’s a constructive dialogue, the efforts are based on mutual trust,” he said.

Last week, on an unannounced visit to the war-torn country, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  said the Trump administration was prepared to “support, facilitate and participate” in peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, suggesting that the U.S. war machinery had failed in Afghanistan.

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