Trump commends Afghan President's role in freeing former hostages

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- US President Donald J. Trump on Thursday spoke with President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan to express appreciation for President Ghani's support in freeing hostages Kevin King and Timothy Weeks.
"President Trump affirmed the important role of the Afghan government in its country's peace process," according to a White House statement. "Both sides agreed a reduction in violence is necessary to move the peace process forward and for any intra-Afghan negotiations regarding a political settlement to be successful. "President Trump and President Ghani reaffirmed their mutual objective of defeating terrorist threats against the United States and Afghanistan," the statement added.
On Tuesday, the White House announced the release of King - an American, and Weeks - an Australian; both were professors at the American University of Afghanistan when they were held hostage by Taliban insurgents in August 2016. (end) rsr.gb