Obama commends Afghan leaders on improving ties with Pakistan

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday to urge faster progress toward an "inclusive national unity government" there, the White House said in a readout of the call.

“(Obama) expressed his expectation that their (Ghani and Abdullah’s) visit to Washington later this month will demonstrate our mutual commitment to a strengthened US-Afghan strategic partnership.”

The leaders discussed ongoing efforts of the Afghan National Security Forces to improve security in Afghanistan and the importance of countering extremist threats from groups like al Qaeda.

Obama praised their efforts towards the peace process and improving ties with Pakistan.