U.S will remain in Afghanistan until the end of the war: Hugo Llorens

Speaking at Resolute Support Commemoration Ceremony for the Victims of the May 31 Attack in Kabul, U.S. Embassy Kabul Special Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Hugo Llorens said that terrorists have two options – either to lay down their arms or face justice.

He said the United States will stand firmly with Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism, adding that, “Afghanistan is not alone in this fight. The United States pledges to see this through to the end and to honor our commitments. We are not going anywhere.”

Meanwhile, General John Nicholson, the commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission (RS) in Afghanistan paid tribute to the Afghan National Police (ANP) officers who defied the May 31 suicide bomber and sacrificed their lives to stop the truck from entering the Green Zone.

He said these officers sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country and the people.

“We can personally express our gratitude and respect to your sons, your husbands, your fathers. They are our heroes, you are our heroes. They were strong and brave, you are strong and brave,” said Nicholson.

In addition, the Afghan Minister of Interior Taj Mohammad Jahid stressed on the need for a longstanding cooperation of the international community with Afghanistan in order to eliminate terrorism in the country.

“Our international partners help us in combating the enemies of humanity, the enemies of the world particulary the enemies of the people of Afghanistan, their longstanding commitment to Afghanistan and support to our security forces, holding of this ceremony itself indicates the sympathy and support of our international partners,” said minister of interior Taj Mohammad Jahid.

The statements come after last week’s announcement by NATO that it would send in more troops to Afghanistan, where they will advise, assist and train the Afghan security forces.
A package of Turkmen-Afghan documents signed in Ashgabat

As a result of the Turkmen-Afghan high-level talks, bilateral documents were signed.

Thus, the Foreign Ministries of the two countries adopted the Program of Cooperation for 2018-2019. At the intergovernmental level, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the carpet industry was signed. Including that of the Agreement on International Road Transport and the Agreement on an International Railway Checkpoint on the Turkmen-Afghan Border. The parties also signed the Rules for the organization of rail transport between Imamnazar and Akina border stations.

The agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Energy and Water Management of the IRA concerns the supply of Turkmen electricity to the Badghis and Jawzjan provinces in Afghanistan.

The agreement on cooperation in the scientific and educational sphere is been concluded between the Turkmen state university named after Makhtumkuli and the university of the Afghan province of Jauzjan.

Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mohammad Ashraf Ghani signed a joint statement following the talks.