WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Despite US efforts, the situation inthe war-plagued country remains unstable, the president said.
"I don’t want to paint too rosy a picture. The situation in Afghanistan is still tough. War has been a part of life in Afghanistan for over 30 years. The US cannot eliminate the Taliban or end violence in that country," Obama said before US soldiers at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
"But what we can do is deny al-Qaeda a safe haven and what we can do is support the Afghans who want a better future, which is why we have not only worked with our military but we backed a unity government in Kabul," he added.
Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with Taliban insurgents and other extremist factions, such as the Islamic State, operating in the country. The United States has been carrying out a counter-terrorist operation in Afghanistan since 2001.
