The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today said Afghanistan has made great advance on behalf of women and human rights during an interview With Mujahid Kakar of Tolo TV,
During the interview, Ms. Clinton highlighted that progress has been made in Afghanistan.
“We’re sitting here talking in a way that was unthinkable 10 years ago. There have been great advances education, health care, so much else. But there’s also a very clear need to continue fighting those who would undermine this progress.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton stressed that there is no military solution to bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan.
“So we have to do three things simultaneously: We have to fight, we have to talk, and we have to build. And I’m here to assess all three of those and how we can do better in each. We need to send a very clear message to the Taliban and those who support them in sanctuaries and safe havens and funding sources that we will not give an inch to them and their desire to turn the progress in Afghanistan backwards.” -Ms. Clinton
Secretary Clinton also noted that there is a need to reach out and talk with those who are willing to reconcile on the three terms that have been laid out: Renounce violence, break with al-Qaida, and respect the laws and constitution of Afghanistan, including protecting the rights of minorities and women.
“We need to continue to build a new Afghanistan.”-Ms. Clinton
