The White House said on Sunday that US President Joe Biden is looking forward to welcome Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, to the White House on June 25.
“The visit will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues,” the White House said. “The United States will remain deeply engaged with the government of Afghanistan to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the US.”
The White House also reassured Afghanistan that the US was dedicated to assisting the Afghan people, including Afghan women, girls, and minorities, through diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian assistance.
The statement also said that the United States “continues to fully support the ongoing peace process and encourages all Afghan parties to participate meaningfully in negotiations to bring an end to the conflict.”
Michael Kugelman, a US scholar of South Asian affairs, said it was an important visit, and “the fact that Ghani and Abdullah are coming to Washington together is as significant as the visit itself.”
The two leaders are seen in Washington as adversaries and US policymakers fear that continued tension between them could jeopardise the peace process.
“One of President Biden’s main goals will be to reassure the two leaders of a continued US commitment to Afghanistan, post-withdrawal,” Mr Kugelman said.
Other media pundits, on the other hand, pointed out that “the White House statement makes no mention of backing for the Afghan military.”
Mr. Kugelman, a deputy director at The Wilson Center in Washington, concurred with this assessment, but noted that the Pentagon had already announced its intention to continue paying the Afghan Security Forces. He went on to say, “I’m genuinely shocked the peace process didn’t get a more prominent and early reference.”
Some observers interpreted the invitation as an attempt to retain the Kabul administration in power following the US withdrawal, claiming that the lack of Soviet backing led to the fall and assassination of former Afghan President Najibullah.
Some analysts also mentioned Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Saturday “absolutely not” declaration, emphasising Islamabad’s commitment not to lend its territory for operations inside Afghanistan following the US pullout.
Despite the fact that the official timeline calls for all US soldiers to leave by September 15, sources in the US media suggest the Pentagon may be able to complete the withdrawal by July 15.
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