KABUL, 29 June 2021, (TON): Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, at a press conference said that the Afghan people will defend the country if war is imposed on them.

Abdullah said “peace was always the demand of the people of Afghanistan, but if the war has been imposed on them, they have no choice but to defend themselves.”

He said “my message in the last meeting with Taliban representatives in Moscow was that both sides will not reach a result by force–by war. This will not be possible if the Taliban try to reach their target militarily.”

In a meeting with US President Biden in Washington, Abdullah said that Biden pledged that the US will be with the people of Afghanistan in the peace process and will also continue to support the Afghan security forces.

The US president also emphasized the need for political consensus. Abdullah said that the US will end its military presence in the country but will continue its assistance to Afghanistan.

 President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah met with Biden at the White House and the US president promised a “sustained” partnership, said the Afghan leaders.