- Title: Afghan president "grateful" for Trump's commitment to fighting Taliban
- Date: 22nd August 2017
- Summary: KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN (AUGUST 22, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND TRIBAL ELDERS AT GATHERING AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASHRAF GHANI SITTING AT GATHERING (IN FRONT OF SMALL TABLE) AUDIENCE SITTING GHANI WALKING TOWARDS STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) AFGHAN PRESIDENT, ASHRAF GHANI, SAYING: "Today is a special day because a few hours ago the United States' president delivered his speech. I hope that you all have heard his speech. His message was that after this, there is no limited time or conditions on their support for Afghanistan. America will stand with Afghanistan until the end." AUDIENCE CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) AFGHAN PRESIDENT, ASHRAF GHANI, SAYING: "I have a clear message for the militants - you cannot win through war. Come and accept our hand offering peace." VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING
- Embargoed: 5th September 2017 12:10
- Keywords: Afghan president Taliban Trump and Afghanistan US troops in Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani
- Location: KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016V8OBIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday (August 22) welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, which would remove timelines for withdrawal of remaining foreign troops.
Ghani said the new strategy would increase the capacity of the training mission for Afghan national security forces, including enhancing its fledgling air force and doubling the size of the Afghan special forces.
Trump on Monday (August 21) committed the United States to an open-ended conflict in the country, signaling he would dispatch more troops to America's longest war and vowing "a fight to win". He offered few specifics.
The Afghan Taliban meanwhile condemned the decision, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying "as long as there is even one American soldier in our country", the Islamist insurgents would "continue our jihad". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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