Afghan Official Says 'War on Terror Has Not Ended'

Seddiq Seddiqi, spokesman for the Afghan ministry of interior, has said despite the announcement that the bulk of British troops would withdraw from Afghanistan in 2013, a "joint effort" to fight terrorism must continue in the Central Asian nation. Seddiqi, speaking to Al Jazeera from Kabul, said the Taliban had not been completely defeated. Identifying terrorists as "those who are against the will of millions of people, not only in Afghanistan, but all over the world", Seddiqi said the war on terror must continue with international support until 2014. Though he called for the continued support of international forces, Seddiqi said that Afghan forces are on track to a full security transition at the end of 2014 when international troops are set to withdraw. He said it was too soon to comment on reports that the United States planned to leave some troops in the nation until 2024.