Afghan, US leaders discuss Afghan situation

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani held a telephone conversation on Tuesday evening with US Vice President Mike Pence on the situation in Afghanistan and the region, the Presidential Palace said on Wednesday.

"The two sides exchanged views over topics of mutual and regional interests," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from the palace as saying.

The subjects included implementation of the US strategy on Afghanistan, the Afghan defence and security sector, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption efforts and conduct of elections.

Pence reaffirmed the US pledge to stay together with and support the Afghan government and people.

In August, US President Donald Trump, besides terming Taliban a terrorist group and vowing to target the militants and their supporters, also promised to increase the troops' number in the insurgency-plagued country.

--IANS

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