Sunday April 10, 2016
KABUL (BNA) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday the political deal that led to the formation of Afghanistan’s National Unity Government in 2014 had no set expiry date, despite widespread assumptions it will end in September. Under the terms of the September 2014 agreement, a Loya Jirga, or special assembly, was expected to be held within two years to amend the constitution. However Kerry, who oversaw the deal that created the government now led by President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, said there was no fixed deadline. “In no way does the agreement itself have some particular termination,” Kerry told a joint media conference with President Ghani in Kabul, adding that U.S. continues to support sovereignty, independence & territorial integrity of self-reliant, democratic Afghanistan, Kerry
Referring to discussion about a possible change to plans to cut the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of the year, Kerry said U.S. President Barack Obama would be guided by the views of U.S. commanders on the ground. President Ghani addressing the joint press conference here in Arg yesterday evening thanked US troops and taxpayers for their continued assistance and sacrifices in counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan. Pointing to imposed war in Afghanistan, president Ghani said that Afghans not favoring war, but demand a peaceful environment, adding that government is committed to fight corruption which has griped Afghanistan and prevents development process.
