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U.S. Official Says Commitment to Afghanistan is Long-Term, Won't be Affected by Iraq
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
(6:51 AM ET)
By Todd Pitman
Associated Press Writer

On Monday, Taylor traveled to western Afghanistan for talks with powerful warlord Ismail Khan, who controls an area where the United States is vying with neighboring Iran for influence. Many of the regions outside of Kabul remain under the rule of warlords, who have been reluctant to cede control to the central government. Taylor said Khan had expressed support for Karzai's government, which is seeking to improve relations with the provincial warlords.

KABUL, Afghanistan -- AP
Washington will not abandon its commitment to help rebuild Afghanistan, even if it is forced to commit military and humanitarian resources for a possible war in Iraq, a top U.S. Treasury official said Tuesday.

President Bush has "always stressed ... a long-term commitment for reconstruction in Afghanistan," U.S. Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor said at the end of a four-day visit to the war-ravaged country.

"We recognize from the past that there are issues that are raised by people not having a commitment that is long enough," he said. "So we have learned and we are going to be committed."

Some Afghan officials have voiced concerns that the rebuilding effort under way in Afghanistan may be neglected if the Bush administration decides to launch a military attack against Saddam Hussein.

Many Afghans feel the United States was quick to abandon them after
pouring millions of dollars worth of aid and weapons into the country in the 1980s to help resistance fighters battle an invasion by the former Soviet Union.
(More: New Jersey Online News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

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