Afghanistan: US Drawing Down, Not Withdrawing Troops: Kerry

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At a press conference held in Islamabad on Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed that the US and some other countries have already made commitments to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014 for fighting militancy and to provide assistance, training, advice and equipments to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). In-spite of strong criticism over drone attacks by the Pakistanis, Kerry emphasised on intensifying such attacks in order to eliminate the insurgents from Pakistan's tribal belts. Meanwhile, Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan's National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor assured that Pakistan will assist in paving the way for negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban. At a joint press briefing with the Pakistani National Security Advisor, Mr. Kerry stressed that the US and some other countries will have military presence in Afghanistan post-2014. He emphasised on the fact that Afghanistan at this juncture cannot be left alone. "The US is drawing down not withdrawing, there is a distinction. The President will announce the number of forces that he will commit for the US. Other countries have already committed certain number of forces, who will remain in Afghanistan for two purposes: Firstly, counter terrorism and secondly, to train equip and advise the armed forces of Afghanistan," said Mr. Kerry. While Pakistani officials strongly criticised the US drone attacks, Mr. Kerry justified the act by saying that such attacks have been very effective in eliminating the insurgents and refused to promise that US drone attacks inside Pakistan would stop and rejected the impression that the strikes were a violation of the country's sovereignty. "I know there are issues of sovereignty that are raised. I would simply remind all of our friends that somebody like al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri is violating the sovereignty of this country. And, they attack people in mosques, (they) blow up people in villages, in market places, they are violating the sovereignty of the country," added Mr. Kerry. Meanwhile, Pakistani foreign affairs and national security advisor Sartaj Aziz has assured that Pakistan will pave the way for talks between the Taliban and Afghan government. Mr. Aziz said that Pakistan will support an Afghan-led peace process. Although, the Taliban is not ready to join the negotiations, Mr. Aziz stressed that efforts are underway and will continue until success is achieved. Mr. Kerry mentioned that trilateral efforts are underway to check the movements of the insurgents from Pakistan and suggested the need for further expansion of such cooperation between Islamabad and Washington.