Afghanistan won’t be source of attacks again: US

Published December 27, 2014
US President Barack Obama addresses troops on Christmas Day at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe on December 25, 2014 as First Lady Michelle Obama looks on. —AFP/Nicholas
US President Barack Obama addresses troops on Christmas Day at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe on December 25, 2014 as First Lady Michelle Obama looks on. —AFP/Nicholas

WASHINGTON: Next week, the United States would end its combat mission in Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama told his troops in a Christmas message.

The president told them that because of their sacrifices, Afghanistan would not be a source of terrorist attacks again.

“We’ve been in continuous war now for over 13 years,” he said. “Next week we will be ending our combat mission in Afghanistan.”

Also read: US may not target Mullah Omar after this year

President Obama marked the end of the combat mission with a speech to his troops in Hawaii, telling them that a grateful American nation would not forget their sacrifices.

“Because of the extraordinary service of the men and women in the American armed forces, Afghanistan has a chance to rebuild its own country,” Mr Obama said to applause from US Marines and their families.

“We are safer. It’s not going to be a source of terrorist attacks again.”

From Jan 2, the United States is changing its role in Afghanistan, from combating militants to helping the Afghan forces deal with the Taliban.

The US combat mission in Afghanistan started soon after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

More than 2,200 US troops were killed while the US spent more than a trillion dollars in this fight. More than $100 billion was spent on reconstruction and on raising the Afghan defence forces.

The troops cheered as President Obama told them that the combat phase was over, although he said there were other trouble spots in the world where their services were needed.

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.