Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, right, speaks at a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, at the Gul Khanna in the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, July 9, 2018. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS
Reuters: Pompeo, in surprise visit to Afghanistan, urges Taliban peace talks
KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Monday, promised support for President Ashraf Ghani’s bid to start peace talks with the Taliban and repeated the United States would be willing to take part.
The visit, at the end of a tour of Asian countries including North Korea and Vietnam, was Pompeo’s first to Afghanistan since he became Secretary of State in April.
He said the strategy announced last year by President Donald Trump of sending more troops to increase pressure on the Taliban and push them toward negotiations was working, and would reassure Afghans “that we will support them as they continue fighting to liberate their country and their people.”
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WNU Editor: U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo is wasting his time. The Taliban have (again) rejected peace talks .... Taliban reject Afghan government's offer of peace talks (The Guardian).
More News On U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo Making A Surprise Visit To Afghanistan
Pompeo pushes peace talks on unannounced trip to Afghanistan -- AP
Pompeo: 'Peace must be decided by the Afghans and settled among them' -- Washington Post
Pompeo makes unannounced trip to Kabul, says Trump's Afghan strategy is 'working' -- Washington Post
Mike Pompeo makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan -- CNN
