Afghan Govt. backs Obama’s decision to appoint Petraeus as new NATO boss

KABUL - The Afghan government has backed President Barack Obama’s decision to appoint Central Command Chief General David Petraeus as the new head of the NATO forces in the country, saying it is looking forward to working with the new commander.

General Petraeus took over from General Stanley McChrystal, who had resigned following making disparaging remarks about some of the top Obama administration officials in an interview to Rolling Stone magazine.

President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman Waheed Omar told media persons here that Kabul respects the White House’ decision and described Petraeus as a person who knows the region well.

“Since it was a US government internal decision we respect it. His replacement General David Petraeus is someone who knows Afghanistan, who knows the region very well and is an experienced general,” The News quoted Omar, as saying.

“We are looking forward to working with him,” he added.

Earlier, McChrystal said that he had resigned as the commander of NATO-led forces in Afghanistan out of a commitment to troops and “to see the mission succeed”.

In a statement issued shortly after President Obama announced that he has decided to replace him, McChrystal said he is deeply committed to the allied forces fighting in Afghanistan and that he supports President Obama’s strategy concerning the war torn country.

“I strongly support the president’s strategy in Afghanistan and am deeply committed to our coalition forces, our partner nations, and the Afghan people,” the statement quoted McChrystal, as saying.

“It was out of respect for this commitment, and a desire to see the mission succeed, that I tendered my resignation,” he added. (ANI)