War against Taliban can be won, says NATO's US commander

Kabul, Oct.13 : The American commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan, Major General David D. McKiernan, has expressed confidence about winning the war against the Taliban. General McKiernan, who leads more than 65,000 troops from about 40 foreign countries, including 33,000 Americans, said at a news conference in Kabul that there had been "too many" reports in the media recently asserting that the foreign forces and their Afghan allies were losing the war.

"I absolutely reject that idea, I don't believe it. It is true that there are many places in this country that don't have an adequate level of security. We don't have progress as even and as fast as any of us would like. But we are not losing in Afghanistan," the New York Times quoted him, as saying.

At another point, he was more emphatic. There are major challenges facing the war effort, he said, "But we will win."

The news conference was held on the general's return from Washington, where he participated in a wide-ranging review of war strategy in Afghanistan.

ANI