Washington: Under fire over abandoning Afghanistan to wage a war in Iraq, President George W Bush today (June16, 2004) pledged "ironclad commitment" and outlined a five point initiative to help stabilise Afghanistan and to hold elections there in September so that it is never again a "terrorist factory."

"My Government reaffirms its ironclad commitment to help Afghanistan succeed and progress," Bush said in the Rose Garden in White House at a joint appearance with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

"Security is essential to steady progress and growth. Teh forces of many nations are working hard with Afghans to find and defeat Taliban remnants and eliminate al Qaeda terrorists," Bush said.

Bush hailed Karzai for being instrumental in lifting your country from the ashes of two decades of war and oppression. "Under your leadership, Afghanistan's progress has been dramatic."

"Three years ago, the Taliban had granted Osama bin Laden and his terrorist al-Qaeda organization a safe refuge. Today, the Taliban has been deposed, al-Qaeda is hiding and coalition forces continue to hunt down the terrorists and holdouts.

"Coalition forces, including many brave Afghans, have brought America, Afghanistan and the free world its first victory in the war on terror. Afghanistan is no longer a terrorist factory sending thousands of killers into the world."