After unveiling new strategy for Afghanistan, the Obama administration on Wednesday continue pressing Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his government to effectively combat corruption in the war-torn country, Xinhua reported.
"We have real concerns about the influence of corrupt officials in the Afghan government, and we will continue to pursue them," Clinton told U.S. lawmakers at a hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on the strategy.
Clinton said President Karzai's pledge on combating corruption "were long in coming, but they were welcome."
"They must now be matched with action. The Afghan people, the United States, and the international community must hold the Afghan Government accountable for making good on these commitments, " said the top U.S. diplomat.
Convincing his people "Afghanistan is not lost," U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday renewed his strategy for Afghanistan by sending 30,000 additional troops to the country in a decisive war against al-Qaida network and extremists.
"As Commander-in-Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home," the president announced the strategy at U.S. Military Academy in West Point.
The military supplement will bring the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to nearly 100,000.
On the civilian strategy, Obama set a precondition on U.S. assistance for Afghan government led by President Karzai.
Critics have warned that sending more troops to Afghanistan would be a waste of American lives and money and would boost Kabul 's reliance on U.S. troops unless Karzai can really improve ability to tackle his government's corruption and mismanagement.
"This effort must be based on performance. The days of providing a blank check are over. ... We will be clear about what we expect from those who receive our assistance. We will support Afghan Ministries, Governors, and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people," said the president.
The Obama administration believes that economic growth, stimulated by a civilian-military agriculture redevelopment strategy, would be critical to undermine extremists' appeal in the short term and for sustainable economic development in the long term.