Obama vows continued action against anti-US outfits

KABUL (Pajhwok): The death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Akhtar Mansour marks an “important milestone” in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama said on Sunday.

Mansour’s death had removed the leader of an insurgent group that had continued to unleash attacks on US and coalition forces and that had waged war against the Afghan people, the president said in a statement from the White House.

His administration would continue to take action against extremist networks that targetted the United States, Obama vowed, saying the Taliban under Mansour’s leadership alignedthemselves with Al Qaeda and other extremist outfits.

Mansur rejected efforts by the Afghan govement to seriously engage in peace talks and end the violence that has taken the lives of countless iocent Afghan men, women and children.

“The Taliban should seize the opportunity to pursue the only real path for ending this long conflict - joining the Afghan govement in a reconciliation process that leads to lasting peace and stability,” the president added.

As an enduring partner of the Afghan people, he assured, the US would continue to help strengthen Afghan security forces and support President Ghani and his national unity govement in their efforts to forge peace and progress.

“We will work on shared objectives with Pakistan, where terrorists that threaten all our nations must be denied safe haven. After so many years of conflict, today gives the people of Afghanistan and the region a chance at a different, better future,” he continued.

He praised military and intelligence persoel for once again sending a clear message to all those who targettedAmericans and their partners that they would have no safe haven.

“Today is a day for us to give thanks to all of the Americans who have served in Afghanistan for so many years with a selfless commitment to the security of our nation and a better future for the Afghan people.”

pr/mud