WASHINGTON - The latest terrorist attack in Kabul underscored the difficult security situation in Afghanistan, the White House (WH) said on Monday, reiterating President Barack Obama’s determination not to let terrorists use that country as a safe haven.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told his daily press conference: “The US and our NATO partners continue to stand with the Afghan government as they counter the threat from extremists and terrorists inside their own country.”
Earnest said the review of Afghan security and policy was not yet over. The latest update he heard at the end of last week was that the results of the review had not been relayed to the president at that point, the official added.
The president was working closely with members of his national security team and military commanders on the most effective way to protect US interests in Afghanistan, the spokesman continued. “It means fulfilling the commitments that we have made militarily, financially and diplomatically to the Afghan government.”
At the end of 2014, Kabul assumed responsibility for the security situation. At that time, US and NATO forces had been working to train the Afghan security personnel and support them as they took on the difficult challenge, he recalled.
Earnest acknowledged the situation in Afghanistan was far from satisfactory. However, he noted the Afghan security forces’ resilience, willingness to fight for their country and their drive to take significant risks in trying to defeat extremists.
“The Americans, our NATO partners and our men and women in uniform stand with the Afghan government and security forces, as they undertake that difficult mission. But this is a mission that has consequences for US national security,” he remarked.(Pajhwok)