Clinton to Afghan women: 'We will not abandon you'

[Robb]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that women's rights should not be sacrificed to any peace deal between the Kabul government and Taliban militants.

Speaking as Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with other U.S. officials, Clinton told three senior female Afghan officials Thursday "we will not abandon you," amid concerns that any political settlement with the Taliban could result in severe restrictions on women's rights.

Karzai came to the U.S. this week in part to persuade the U.S. to back his plans for ending the war through negotiations with militants. Taliban sympathizers routinely intimidate or attack women who work outside the home, wear western dress or try to attend school.

Clinton said "it is essential that women's rights and women's opportunities are not sacrificed or trampled on in the reconciliation process."

She noted she had promised Karzai the U.S. would not "abandon Afghanistan in its quest for peace and long-term stability and we will not. And I make the same pledge to the women of Afghanistan. We will not abandon you, we will stand with you always."

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I do like this Secretary of State quite a bit.