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Kabul Seeks Clarification on Trump Talk of Wiping Out Afghanistan

Reuters

   KABUL - Afghanistan called on Tuesday for an explanation of comments by
   U.S. President Donald Trump in which he said he could win the Afghan
   war in just 10 days by wiping out Afghanistan but did not want to kill
   10 million people.

   Trump's remarks followed a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran
   Khan at the White House on Monday at which Trump voiced optimism that
   Pakistan could help broker a political settlement to end the nearly
   18-year-old war in Afghanistan.

   The remarks drew a stiff response from Afghanistan's presidential
   palace, which has been excluded from talks between the United States
   and the Taliban and which accuses Pakistan of supporting the
   insurgency.

   "The Afghan nation has not and will never allow any foreign power to
   determine its fate," the presidential palace said.

   "While the Afghan government supports the U.S. efforts for ensuring
   peace in Afghanistan, the government underscores that foreign heads of
   state cannot determine Afghanistan's fate in absence of the Afghan
   leadership," it said in a statement.

   It called for clarification of Trump's statement.