The Taliban will never be legitimate and durable if it tries to take Afghanistan by force, US Secretary of States Antony Blinken said during a visit to Kabul on Thursday.
“It is very important that the Taliban recognize that it will never be legitimate and it will never be durable if it rejects a political process and tries to take the country by force,” Blinken told a press conference.
He said that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and the only way for a just and durable peace is negotiation and compromise.
Blinken said that it is a time of transition and with any transition comes “uncertainty, comes concern, and I very much recognize that and I see that.”
He said that the US will step up its engagement with Afghanistan in other areas and the ongoing support for Afghan security forces will continue.
Blinken also said that the US will continue humanitarian support to Afghanistan and support to development in the country.
