US might need to 're-examine' withdrawal deadline: Ghani
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 5, 2015 10:53AM
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani says the deadline for the withdrawal of the remaining US-led foreign soldiers in the country by the end of 2016 might need to be re-examined.
"Deadlines concentrate the mind. But deadlines should not be dogmas," Ghani said in the CBS program 60 Minutes on Sunday.
"If both parties, or, in this case, multiple partners, have done their best to achieve the objectives and progress is very real, then there should be willingness to re-examine a deadline," added Ghani, who was elected last year.
In response to the question whether he had talked about the issue with US President Barack Obama, Ghani said, "President Obama knows me. We don't need to - to tell each other."
The comments came after Afghan forces officially assumed full responsibility for their country's security on Thursday after US-led foreign forces ended their 13-year combat mission in the violence-ravaged country.
Transferring security to Afghan forces will not bring an end to the presence of foreign troops in the country, as about 13,000 foreign forces, mostly from the US, will be deployed as part of the so-called Resolute Support Mission.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but Afghanistan is still grappling with insecurity despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops in the country.
According to the UN, civilian casualties hit a new high last year in Afghanistan with about 10,000 civilians killed or wounded
MR/NN/HRB
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