Washington, Thu Jul 26 2012 - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said that if voted to power, he would ensure completion of successful transition to the Afghan security forces by the end of 2014.

“As president, my goal in Afghanistan will be to complete a successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014. And I will evaluate conditions on the ground and solicit the best advice of our military commanders,” Romney said in a major foreign policy speech in Nevada on Tuesday.

The Republican candidate said he would ensure that his duty was “not to his political prospects, but to the security of the nation and the safety of our troops”.

Romney accused President Barack Obama of believing that anyone who disagreed with his decision was arguing for and endless war, noting that “route to more war and potentially to attacks here at home is a politically timed retreat”.

Although there was no mention of Pakistan in his speech, a fact sheet issued by his campaign said that Romney would work with Islamabad “to sever” any connection between insurgent forces and Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies. It said Romney would use US leverage to ensure that oth Pakistan and Afghanistan were fully contributing to the success of the mission.

“He will make it clear to Hamid Karzai... that his government must coordinate with the US on fighting the narcotics trade that fuels insurgency,” it said.