Pompeo meets with US forces in Afghanistan, says Taliban must be defeated

WASHINGTON, July 10 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with US and coalition troops at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on Monday, where he thanked them for their service and reiterated that the Taliban must not win on the battlefield.
"The Taliban cannot win on the battlefield, cannot wait us out, and will ultimately have to settle their differences with the Afghan government at the negotiating table," said a statement from Spokesperson Heather Nauert on Tuesday.
"The Secretary thanked the troops on behalf of President Trump and expressed his appreciation for their hard work and sacrifice," she added. "He commended them for delivering security to Afghanistan and providing the Afghan people with an opportunity for a peaceful future." Finally, Pompeo answered questions from troops regarding global issues such as North Korea, in which he underscored the "US commitment to developing a peaceful solution on the Korean Peninsula," the statement noted. (end) ak.hb