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US cannot eliminate Taliban or end violence in Afghanistan, says Barack Obama

by IBNS 07 Dec 2016, 08:29 am

Washington, Dec 7 (IBNS): Outgoing President of the United States of America (USA) Barack Obama said that his country cannot eliminate the Taliban nor end violence in Afghanistan.

Refuting earlier claims, Obama said he wasn't interested in 'painting a rosy picture'.

"Now, 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, and the United States cannot eliminate the Taliban or end violence in that country," he was quoted as saying at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

However, Obama said that he can ensure that the Al-Qaeda does not find a safe place to operate from.

"But what we can do is deny al Qaeda a safe haven, and what we can do is support Afghans who want a better future, which is why we have worked not only with their military, but we’ve backed a unity government in Kabul," he added.

Listing his achievement in the south Asian nation, the American President said, "We’ve helped Afghan girls go to school.  We’ve supported investments in health care and electricity and education.  You have made a difference in Afghanistan, and America is safer for it."