Washington, Dec 16 (DPA) US President Barack Obama said Thursday that US and international forces are ‘on track’ to prevail in Afghanistan but cautioned that task will continue to be ‘a very difficult endeavour’.
Obama’s remarks came after his administration revealed its one-year assessment of the strategy outlined by Obama in December 2009 that included a buildup of US forces, along with greater focus on the border areas with Pakistan.
‘This continues to be a very difficult endeavour,’ Obama said, before adding that ‘we are on track to achieve our goals.’
The report said progress has been made in turning back the Taliban, which had made substantial gains in the year prior to the new strategy, but the situation remains ‘fragile’.
‘While the strategy is showing progress across all three assessed areas of Al Qaeda, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the challenge remains to make our gains durable and sustainable,’ the assessment said.
The plan to begin the transition of security responsibility to the Afghanistan government and begin the possible withdrawal of US forces in July remained in place, Obama said.
