Clinton: U.S. on track for Afghan deal
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that the United States appears to be on track to sign a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON, SAYING
"We are clearing the way toward a strategic partnership agreement. We would very much like to be in a position to sign such an agreement either before or at the Chicago summit, and I think we are on track to do so."
More than a decade after Afghanistan's Taliban government was toppled, the United States and its allies face a resilient insurgency, a weak Afghan government, and an uncertain future for Western support.
U.S.-Afghan relations has recently been further strained by a March 11 incident in which a U.S. soldier is suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER ZALMAY RASOOL, SAYING:
"The Afghan government and the Afghan people expect to see an investigation which is credible and be informed. So, the real investigation is starting now and we hope that we will be informed on the follow-up of this investigation."
On March 15, the Afghan Taliban said it was suspending nascent peace talks with the United States seen as a way to end the country's decade-long conflict, blaming "shaky, erratic and vague" U.S. statements.
The Taliban decision to suspend the talks was a blow to NATO hopes of a negotiated end to the war, which has cost the United States $510 billion and the lives of more than 1,900 soldiers.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON, SAYING
"We are clearing the way toward a strategic partnership agreement. We would very much like to be in a position to sign such an agreement either before or at the Chicago summit, and I think we are on track to do so."
More than a decade after Afghanistan's Taliban government was toppled, the United States and its allies face a resilient insurgency, a weak Afghan government, and an uncertain future for Western support.
U.S.-Afghan relations has recently been further strained by a March 11 incident in which a U.S. soldier is suspected of killing 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER ZALMAY RASOOL, SAYING:
"The Afghan government and the Afghan people expect to see an investigation which is credible and be informed. So, the real investigation is starting now and we hope that we will be informed on the follow-up of this investigation."
On March 15, the Afghan Taliban said it was suspending nascent peace talks with the United States seen as a way to end the country's decade-long conflict, blaming "shaky, erratic and vague" U.S. statements.
The Taliban decision to suspend the talks was a blow to NATO hopes of a negotiated end to the war, which has cost the United States $510 billion and the lives of more than 1,900 soldiers.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.