WASHINGTON: The United States and the international community remain committed to a sovereign and stable Afghanistan, says the US State Department.

“The United States … Nato and the international community have renewed their commitment to a sovereign and stable and unified Afghanistan, a democratic Afghanistan,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke told reporters in Washington.

On Sunday, the United States and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) ended their combat mission in Afghanistan and launched a new mission aimed at assisting the official Afghan forces in combating the militants.

Know more: Taliban claim Nato ‘defeat’ in 13-year Afghan war

“As our Afghan partners assume responsibility for the security of their country, the United States officially concludes Operation Enduring Freedom,” said US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel while explaining the change. “In 2015, we begin our follow-on mission — Operation Freedom’s Sentinel — to help secure and build upon the hard-fought gains of the last 13 years.”

The Taliban, however, interpreted this change as a victory for the militants who have been combating US forces, their allies and Afghan security forces since October 2001.

“Isaf rolled up its flag in an atmosphere of failure and disappointment without having achieved anything substantial or tangible,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

But the State Department spokesman rejected the suggestion that the US and its partners were leaving Afghanistan.

The United States, he said, was part of the international community’s commitment to Afghanistan and was looking forward to “maintaining both the training and assistance component” for Afghan security forces.

Mr Rathke also said a “broader engagement with Afghanistan is a key part” of this commitment.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2014