US has done a ‘great job’ in Afghanistan, asserts Trump: Key developments

Meanwhile, in an interaction with Pentagon reporters, Defence Secretary Mark Esper said the peace deal signed with the Taliban in Doha over the weekend was a conditions-based agreement

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump asserted that his country had done a “great job” in its fight against terrorism in Afghanistan, and said it was now time for other countries to play their part. “We’ve done a great job in terms of getting rid of terrorists. Now it’s up to other countries to get rid of those terrorists,” Trump told reporters.

Responding to questions, Trump reiterated that the US was pulling out its troops from Afghanistan. “We are getting out. We want to get out. We had good meetings with the Taliban. And we are going to be leaving, and we’re going to be bringing our soldiers back home. We’ve been there for almost 20 years. It’s a long time,” Trump said. President Trump and his Afghanistan counterpart Ghani spoke over the phone on Sunday. Trump congratulated Ghani on the recent steps taken towards achieving peace in the war-torn country, according to a White House statement.

“The two leaders agreed that Saturday’s announcement of the United States-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan were important milestones for the Afghan peace process,” the release said. The two leaders further agreed to stay in touch as the peace process moved into the next phase, which involves negotiations among Afghans for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and road map for the political future of the country…Read More