US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the United States’ commitment to preventing the resurgence of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Speaking in a joint press conference with the Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister in Riyadh on Thursday, Secretary Blinken emphasized that since the conclusion of America’s longest war, the US has maintained a clear focus on its core national security interests. He stated, “We will continue to be focused on our core national security interest in preventing the resurgence of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, and if necessary, taking action to deal with it.”
The Secretary pointed out that the US has already demonstrated its ability to respond effectively to the evolving security situation in Afghanistan. He cited the elimination of a senior leader of al-Qaida, who was residing in Afghanistan, as an example of the US’s ongoing commitment to countering terrorist threats.
Addressing concerns regarding the Taliban’s stance on ISIS-Khorasan, Secretary Blinken acknowledged that the Taliban is an enemy of the extremist group and has taken action against it. However, he reiterated that regardless of the Taliban’s actions, the United States remains resolute in its commitment to protecting its security against any terrorism that may emanate from Afghanistan.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Al Saud, echoed Blinken’s statement, saying, “We would also like to reiterate that we need to focus our work more on Afghanistan so that it cannot be a safe haven again for terrorist groups.”
