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Obama air-dashes to Afghanistan, says Al-Qaida defeat within reach

President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai sign a strategic partnership agreement. — AP/PTI US President Barack Obama in Kabul on Tuesday. — Reuters

Kabul/Washington, May 2
Making a sudden and secretive air-dash to war-torn Afghanistan, President Barack Obama today declared that US will “finish the job” in the country and was near its goal to defeat Al-Qaida and deny it a chance to rebuild.

Slipping into Afghanistan under the cover of darkness, Obama said the “tide of war” in the country had already been turned and pledged that the US will not abandon it as he inked a strategic pact to set out a long-term role in the nation.

“We have travelled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. Yet here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon,” he said in a telecast live to US from the Bagram air base on the first death anniversary of Osama bin Laden.

But in a blunt reminder of the fragile security situation in Afghanistan, a series of explosions and gun fire erupted in the capital just hours after Obama’s departure.

The new Kabul-Washington Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) signed by Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai provides for American forces to be involved in counter- terrorism and training of the Afghan military after the planned final withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops in 2014.

“This time of war began in Afghanistan, and this is where it will end. ... With faith in each other, and our eyes fixed on the future, let us finish the work at hand and forge a just and lasting peace,” Obama said as he assured the Americans, who are “tired of war”, that the winding down had begun in Afghanistan, just as it has already ended in Iraq.

“Over the last three years the tide has turned... We have broken Taliban’s momentum. We have built a strong Afghan security force. We devastated Al-Qaida leadership taking out 20 of their top 30 leaders and one year ago from a base here our troops launched the operation that killed bin Laden. “The goal that I set-to defeat Al-Qaida and deny it a chance to rebuild-is within our reach,” Obama declared.

Announcing that the US was building a global consensus to support peace and stability in South Asia, Obama said along with pressure on the militants, negotiations were being pursued for peace.

“In coordination with the Afghan government, my administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban. We have made it clear that they can be part of this future if they break with Al-QaIda, renounce violence and abide by Afghan laws,” the US President said.

Obama said that many members of the Taliban, from foot soldiers to leaders, have indicated an interest in reconciliation. “The path of peace is now set before them, those who refuse to walk it will face from Afghan security forces, backed by the US and other allies,” he warned.

Turning to Pakistan, the US President said that Washington has made it clear to Islamabad, “that it can and should be an equal partner in the peace process.” The US President said America has no designs beyond an end to Al-Qaida safe havens and respect for Afghan sovereignty.

On the US-Afghan pact, Obama said that continued US role in Afghanistan was to give the opportunity to stabilise the country, warning “otherwise, our gains could be lost and Al-Qaida could establish itself once more. And as Commander-in-Chief, I refuse to let that happen.”

Seeking to reassure the American people in election year, Obama said: “Our troops will be coming home.” Outlining the time-table for the drawdown, he said the US had brought back 10,000 troops last year and another 23,000 would leave by the end of summer.

After that he said reductions would continue at a steady pace and most of the forces would be home by the end of 2014. — PTI

Kabul, Washington ink pact

The new Kabul-Washington Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) signed by Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai provides for American forces to be involved in counter- terrorism and training of the Afghan military after the planned final withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops in 2014.

Obamaspeak

"We have travelled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. Yet here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon.

This time of war began in Afghanistan, and this is where it will end. ... With faith in each other, and our eyes fixed on the future, let us finish the work at hand and forge a just and lasting peace"