United States will stand by Afghans if Taliban choose to continue fighting

AVA- “The road to peace will require the Taliban to sit with the Afghan government.  There is a consensus among all the regional partners on this point,” Khalilzad told a media roundtable at the US Embassy in Kabul.
In 'a tit for tat’ response to the Taliban’s warning that they would pull out of the talks with the US, Khalilzad said his country would stand by Afghan forces if the Taliban chose to continue fighting.
“If the Talibs want to talk, we can talk. If they want to fight, we can fight. We hope that the Talibs want to make peace.  But if they do not choose to come to the table, if they choose to continue fighting, the United States will stand with the Afghan people and the Afghan government and support them.  We in the coalition are proud of our support to Afghan security forces. Afghan security forces and military pressure are important in this phase.”
“We have never said we want permanent military bases in Afghanistan.  What we want is to see this conflict end through negotiation, and to continue our partnership with Afghanistan, and to ensure no terrorist threatens either of us.”
Khalilzad said their long term goal was ‘a comprehensive relationship’ with Afghanistan that honored the sacrifice of the last 17 years and provided for a better future for all Afghans. “That relationship includes a military, diplomatic, and economic relationship.”
On the next date of talks, the envy expressed optimism that talks would happen soon.  “We’re hopeful it will happen very soon.  That’s what we’re working towards.”