WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, released the following statement after President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan addressed a joint session of Congress:

“I commend President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah for their united efforts in securing and stabilizing Afghanistan. Their new National Unity Government is working hard to tackle corruption, strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, and create economic opportunity after decades of devastating conflict.”

“After sacrificing so much, the United States must not abandon the people of Afghanistan at this critical moment. We should continue to provide targeted assistance as they navigate this transitional period and support efforts to enhance security, achieve political reconciliation, increase trade and private sector development, and ultimately build a prosperous and stable nation. To that end, I support President Obama’s decision to delay the withdrawal of some U.S. troops until the end of this year in order to provide more stability for our Afghan partners as they confront continued threats to their security.

“But I believe we must demand greater accountability going forward. That’s why I’m glad that under the New Development Partnership, U.S. economic assistance will be tied to Afghan achievements of specific development results and implementation of key policy reforms. And I welcome President Ghani’s statements that Afghanistan’s ultimate goal is self-reliance.

“We also hope to see more progress on human rights. Last week, when a young Afghan woman named Farkhunda was brutally murdered by a mob in Kabul for allegedly burning pages of the Quran, we were reminded that Afghanistan still faces serious challenges. The international community must work with the government of Afghanistan to help ensure freedom of expression, protect the rights of women and minorities, and provide all Afghan children the right to an education.

“The bottom line is that the United States stands committed to the people and the government of Afghanistan. President Ghani’s visit today marks the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Afghan relations, and I look forward to a future of cooperation.”