NEW YORK - Stressing the need for a political solution to the Afghan conflict through a regional diplomatic effort, Senator John Kerry said the U.S. should listen to both Pakistanis and Afghans to protect American interests. Opening a hearing on U.S. goals and progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said by announcing withdrawal of 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by September 2012, President Obama has kept his commitment.

"We have a complicated relationship. We have to work with the Pakistanis where our interests converge and we have to find common ground where we have different goals even when the road ahead looks difficult," he said at the hearing, where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified, a day after President Obama unveiled his troops drawdown plan.
The Pakistanis have reacted very strongly to the events of May 2, he said referring to U.S. unilateral operation to take out Osama bin Laden from his hideout in Abbottabad.
On the way forward in Afghanistan, he said, the bottom line was no number of troops will resolve the challenge of that country.

"Every military leader has said there is no military solution. So now is the time to work with the Afghan leaders and all of their neighbors to find the political solution to this conflict.
"Every military leader has said there is no military solution. So now is the time to work with the Afghan leaders and all of their neighbors to find the political solution to this conflict.
"We cannot do this in a vacuum. As we talk with the Taliban, we have to pursue a vigorous diplomatic strategy with Pakistan, India, Russia, China, and other nations in the region.
We need to listen closely to the Afghans and Pakistanis and work with them to protect our national interests." (Agencies)