Secretary of State John Kerry has flown to Afghanistan. Western media is calling the visit a surprise.
Secretary of State John Kerry arrived for an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Saturday, seeking to diffuse a political crisis in the unity government he helped build.
Kerry makes surprise visit to Afghanistan amid security woes, Elise Labott, CNN
Though Afghan media seem to have known of the surprise visit beforehand.
Afghanistan officials have stated that secretary of state John Kerry to visit Kabul on Saturday and will discuss the ways for implementation of the strategic mutual agreement in between Kabul-Washington.
Mps have urged that secretary of state Kerry should talk over the political disagreements which are tensed in between the two leaders to break the Election deadlock.
Kerry to visit Afghanistan’s Officials on Saturday, Ariana News
The last time John Kerry was in Afghanistan, Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of Balkh, was blackmailing the United States with a threat of civil war. He did this via twitter, Facebook, and Washington Post.
Secretary Kerry gave the governor nearly what he wanted. It is not for outsiders to describe the deal for the government of Afghanistan that had been negotiated in a back room. But in no way does backroom creation of new government positions violate the Constitution, the Secretary said.
It's not for outsiders to describe the contents of the political framework both candidates accepted a few days ago. But I was there in the room, and I can tell you what is not in that one-page document.
It does not violate the Afghan constitution – it respects Afghan institutions and the role of the president as the head of government. It does not establish a parliamentary system – it creates a new position of chief executive who will report to the president until the president convenes a loya jirga to determine whether a permanent change is in the best interests of the country.
Op-Ed from Secretary Kerry, Tolo News
On this trip, John Kerry is threatening Afghanistan. If Afghanistan does not fix its problem with corruption, then we will stop bribing it. This would probably bring civil war.
With Afghanistan's shattered economy still on its knees and struggling with endemic corruption, Kerry said it was crucial for the country to secure international aid.
"It is essential for these next week's and months for Afghanistan to show how that money is well spent and how the purpose of Afghanistan and the unity is going to earn the support and respect of the rest of the world," he said.
Kerry aims to ease crisis over Afghan unity pact during Kabul visit, Arshad Mohammed and James McKenzie, Reuters
We all know about Afghanistan and its corruption. Ever since the time the United States invaded and occupied the country, handing out tin-foil-wrapped bricks of hundred dollar bills to men like Atta Mohammad Noor, Afghanistan has been one of the most corrupt places in all the world.
Everyone also knows about the problem of Afghan factionalism. Secretary Kerry had flown to Afghanistan to tell them to stop.
Kerry urged President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to set aside their rivalries and work together, warning their political infighting could paralyze the country and dampen the confidence of the international community.
"We need to make certain that the government of national unity is doing everything possible to be unified and to deliver to the people of Afghanistan," Kerry said in an address to the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Commission, which he hosted with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani.
If they stop with the factionalism, then we can get back to making nominations to the Supreme Court. And arguing between ourselves over who said what when, at the Vatican, about inviting Bernie Sanders to visit. And if “the Vatican” is the correct way to say it.