WASHINGTON, July 29 (KUNA) -- U.S. President Barack Obama met on Thursday at the White House with his national security team regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that this is the seventh regular monthly meeting of the group on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Gibbs indicated that the meeting began with an update on the situation in Afghanistan, "where they discussed the success of the recent Kabul conference, including the absence of significant security disruptions." He added that the meeting also focused on "the steps that were announced to move forward on strengthening governance and pursuing reintegration." He affirmed that General David Petraeus, commander of US and NATO forces, "gave a security update reviewing the progress that has been made across the country." Gibbs noted that on Pakistan, the group "reviewed the recent strategic dialogue that Secretary Clinton held in Pakistan, while also discussing our continued efforts to support the Pakistani military's actions against violent extremists within its borders." State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley announced earlier today that Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke represented the State Department at the meeting. (end) si.mb KUNA 292346 Jul 10NNNN¬