- BAGRAM AIR BASE,
Afghanistan (AFP) - The year-old coalition campaign against Taliban and
al-Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan still has a long way to go despite the
recent peace in the war-ravaged country, top US military commander Tommy
Franks said here.
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- He told troops at Bagram airbase Afghanistan remained
dangerous and would require US military help for the foreseeable future.
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- "This is a dangerous place, we are all reminded
daily of that fact. There is a lot of work to be done before we quit,"
Franks said Saturday.
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- Addressing around 500 soldiers at the base 50 kilometres
(30 miles) north of Kabul, Franks delivered his assessment of the 12-month
bombing and military campaign and thanked troops for their efforts since
the war began on October 7, 2001.
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- "About a year and 12 days ago, we started combat
operations in here. We had a delivery of air power against our enemies
in this country.
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- "At that time, Afghanistan was a state that was
sponsored by terrorism. But the Taliban did not last long. On December
22 last year, (the Afghans) installed the first government they had had
in a long long time.
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- "About this time last year, there were millions
of people worrying about starving to death when winter comes. What a difference
a year makes."
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- "I say thanks for indeed a grateful country. All
of us in leadership positions are humbled by what you do and who you are
and what you represent."
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- Earlier Saturday, Franks met with Afghan President Hamid
Karzai, the head of the transitional government which took office in June
following nearly a quarter century of war.
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- "It was a courtesy meeting. General Franks talked
about the situation with coalition forces in Afghanistan and since he has
travelled to other countries in the region they also discussed the situation
regarding these (countries)," presidential spokesman Tayab Jawed told
AFP.
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- Franks flew to Kabul from Islamabad where he held talks
with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who has faced domestic criticism
for his unwavering support of the United States in its self-declared war
on terrorism.
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- Musharraf, whose country just held its first general
elections since he took over in a coup in October 1999, told Franks he
was "pleased" about the vote.
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- "He told me he was very pleased that the elections
had taken place," Franks told reporters.
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- "The people have made the statement that they wanted
to make. His concerns have been what we have described as the issue of
extremism... but also the issue of economic impact. He is continuing to
act on that in Pakistan."
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- Franks, the former commander of the US forces here, is
on a swing through the Middle East and South Asia. He flies on to Turkey
later Saturday for talks with officials there early next week, and then
to Egypt.
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- US troops are the largest contingent of international
forces stationed in Afghanistan since last year's fall of the Taliban regime,
ousted after an intense bombing campaign mostly by American forces.
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- Copyright © 2001 AFP
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