US courts Karzai, vows not to abandon Afghans

Hillary Clinton says Washington's civilian commitment will continue in the future

WASHINGTON: The US courted Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday, pledging not to abandon Afghanistan as the two sides opened high-level talks aimed at showing a united front in the nine-year war.

The discussions, which include diplomatic, defence, military and intelligence chiefs on both sides, follow weeks of hostility caused by Karzai's anti-Western comments, including blaming the West for corruption in Afghanistan. In the first public session in an elegant State Department reception room, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US has a long-term commitment to Afghanistan and the two sides could have disagreements without rupturing ties.

"As we look toward a responsible, orderly transition in the international combat mission in Afghanistan, we will not abandon the Afghan people," Clinton said. The goal of pulling out US troops from July 2011 has raised concerns among many Afghans that the US will turn its back on them as it did following the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan in 1989. Clinton smiled broadly as she welcomed Karzai, referring to the "long-term commitment" of the US to his country.

The Afghan leader talked of a "steady and mature" relationship, a "joint venture" and "partnership". Karzai repeated previous pledges to tackle corruption and also sought to put behind him the recent tensions after a string of anti-Western statements incensed the White House.

"Afghanistan will continue to build its institutions to preserve its progress and to walk towards the future with steady, strong steps," Karzai said. "We will be having disagreements on issues from time to time. But that is the sign of a mature relationship, the sign of a steady relationship," he added.

It was in sharp contrast to a visit to Afghanistan by US President Barack Obama in March when he entered the country in darkness and spent just six hours in Kabul, leaving without even having a full news conference with his host.

The message then was one of tackling corruption, with Obama saying progress there was "too slow" in dealing with graft. But Clinton made little reference to corruption during her opening remarks on Tuesday, except to praise Karzai for the efforts he had made so far and gently call for more. agencies