KABUL - The visit to the United States was a step to restore the strained relations between Kabul and Washington, the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said, calling the trip productive.

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Abdullah declared that their visit helped to gain more assistance from the United States including equipment to the Afghan forces.

Both the leaders of National Unity Government (NUG), President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah, headed a high-level government team last week to the United States where President Barack Obama made several pledges to Afghanistan.

Continued funding of all 352,000 Afghan forces until 2017, keeping the current posture of 9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan until the end of 2015 and an aid of $800 million USD to the unity government's reform agenda were among the new Obama commitments to Afghanistan.

"This trip was a step to restore the friendly relations which were, unfortunately, harmed in the past," Abdullah said. "These steps were already started from the beginning of the government, and this trip led the United States to become more interested in supporting Afghanistan."

He noted that one of the achievements of their visit was to gain more support for the Afghan forces in terms of training, advising and assisting.

The analysts, meanwhile, believe that if the NUG leaders fail to practice their commitments, the newly created atmosphere between Kabul and Washington would be lost.

"This visit had achievements, and created a new chapter of relations between Kabul and Washington," analyst Mir Ahmad Joyenda said. "But in fact, this visit also brought more responsibilities to the unity government and they need to fulfill what they promised in America."

Though, the five-day visit is said to have been productive, the Afghan people are still awaiting their economic situation improved, their safety ensured and also implementation of rule of law and justice. (Tolonews)