WASHINGTON - The Obama administration on Monday said there was no change in its Afghan strategy due to the current phase of violence and high anti-American sentiment in the country after the alleged desecration of the Quran by US troops.
"We have as an objective to allow Afghanistan and its government the space and time to take over security of the country. That process is well under way," White House (WH) Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily news briefing.
"The president has made clear that we are drawing down our forces in Afghanistan. We have been drawing down from the surge force level already, and will continue that process. And he has made clear that we will turn over full lead, security lead, to Afghan forces by the end of 2014," he said.

Acknowledging the mission in Afghanistan was a difficult, Carney said: "We can't forget what the mission is, though, and the fact that the need to disrupt, dismantle and defeat Al Qaida remains. The need to prevent Afghanistan from being a haven for AL Qaida to launch attacks against the United States remains."

The Pentagon joined the White House chorus. "Anyone who believes they can weaken our resolve through these cowardly attacks is severely mistaken. Our coalition will emerge from these challenges far stronger … to provide security for the Afghan people."

George Little, the Pentagon press secretary, said there was much at stake in Afghanistan, and the US commitment to its mission and strategy would not waiver. "We will not let recent events allow us to lose sight of the progress we are making toward our broader objectives..."

Pentagon officials, he said, believed the US had achieved significant progress in reversing the Taliban's momentum and in developing Afghan security forces, and the fundamentals of the US strategy remained sound.
"We are unwavering in our commitment to achieving transition to Afghan security lead along the timeline agreed to at Lisbon. We join President Karzai and other senior Afghan leaders who have called for calm and an end to violent protests," Little said.

The US respected the right of all Afghans to peaceful protest, but further bloodshed served neither the coalition nor the Afghan people, who were themselves falling victim to violence, the official remarked. "Our relationship with our Afghan partners remains strong. We continue to strengthen the mutual trust between ISAF and the government of Afghanistan…"