Obama vows to break Taliban momentum

Washington: A day after an international conference in Kabul voiced support for continued international security presence in Afghanistan US president Barack Obama voiced his country's resolve to break the Taliban's momentum.

Pointing out that terrorists trained in Afghanistan and the tribal regions along the Pakistani border had killed innocent civilians in the US and the UK Obama said though the fight in Afghanistan was not easy, it was "a necessary one."

"We have the right strategy. We are going to break the Taliban's momentum. We are going to build Afghan capacity, so Afghans can take responsibility for their future. We are going to deepen regional cooperation, including with Pakistan," Obama said at a joint news conference on Tuesday with British prime minister David Cameron.

Cameron is on his first White House visit after assuming office in May.

"This is not an easy fight, but it is a necessary one. Terrorists trained in Afghanistan and the tribal regions along the Pakistani border have killed innocent civilians in both of our countries.

Referring to what is popularly termed as ''momentum'' gained by the Taliban in recent months Obama warned that a wider insurgency in Afghanistan would mean an even larger safe haven for al Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates to plan their next attack. "And we are not going to let that happen."