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US in bid to convince Afghanistan

US SECRETARY of state Antony Blinken has made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan to sell leaders and a wary public on President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw all American troops from the country and end America’s longest-running war.

Blinken sought to assure senior Afghan politicians that the US remains committed to the country despite plans to withdraw 2500 US soldiers by the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that led to the invasion in 2001.

“I wanted to demonstrate with my visit the ongoing commitment of the United States to the Islamic Republic and the people of Afghanistan,” Blinken told Afghan president Ashraf Ghani as they met at the presidential palace in Kabul.

“The partnership is changing, but the partnership itself is enduring.”

“We respect the decision and are adjusting our priorities,” Ghani told Blinken, expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of US troops.

Later, in a meeting with Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the National Reconciliation Council, Blinken repeated his message, saying that “we have a new chapter, but it is a new chapter that we’re writing together”.

“We are grateful to your people, your country, your administration,” Abdullah said.

Nato immediately followed Biden’s lead on Wednesday, saying its roughly 7000 non-American forces in Afghanistan would be departing within a few months, ending the foreign military presence.

Blinken arrived in the Afghan capital from Brussels, where he and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin briefed Nato officials on the US decision and won quick approval from the allies.