Biden: Afghan successes notable, fragile

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Coalition forces have disrupted the Taliban's momentum in Afghanistan, but that could be reversed, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said in Kabul Tuesday.

"We have largely arrested the Taliban momentum here in some very important areas," Biden said during a joint media availability with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. "But these gains … we know are fragile and reversible."

Sustaining successes will require Afghan forces eventually taking the lead in security and necessitate Pakistan making a greater effort to flush out terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Biden said.

"There are many hard days that lie ahead," said Biden, who arrived in Afghanistan Monday for an unannounced visit.

The Obama administration's plan to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan in July and NATO's agreement for Afghan forces to assume the security lead in 2014 provide a "viable path going forward," Biden said. "We've moved into a new phase in Afghanistan -- transition to full Afghan lead beginning this year and concluding in 2014."

The United States would provide assistance to Afghanistan beyond 2014 as long as the government needs and wants it, Biden pledged.

"We are not leaving if you don't want us to," he said, though stressing it wasn't the U.S. intent to govern or nation-build. He added that is the responsibility of Afghans, to which Karzai responded, "Wonderful."

Karzai said the delegations he and Biden led had productive discussions and that he and the vice president also talked one-on-one for more than an hour.

The Afghan leader said his conversation with Biden "centered on the strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the United States; security in Afghanistan and in the region, as well as the transition process of security responsibilities to Afghan forces; on ways how to intensify and how to do that process and transition in the best possible manner."

"So we had discussions, and I'm pleased of the conclusions and of the results of our meetings, and I once again welcome him to Afghanistan," Karzai said. "And I thank you for all the cooperation and for all the contributions that you have given to the people of Afghanistan."

Before meeting with Karzai, Biden met with U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and Army Gen. David Petraeus, and addressed members of the U.S. diplomatic corps in Afghanistan. He also visited the Kabul Military Training Center where Afghan National Army troops are trained.