Kerry presses Afghan rivals to unite over reforms

KABUL — Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday committed to pushing reforms after his picks for attorney general and interior minister won long-sought Cabinet confirmation, while U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pleaded with the government’s power-sharing leaders to bury their divisions for the good of the country.

The unwieldy arrangement, which Kerry helped to forge, has left interim ministers in critical positions while the U.S. ally struggles to confront lawlessness, corruption and the Taliban’s resilient and perhaps expanding insurgency.

In the coming months, NATO and international donor summits could define long-term security and aid commitments critical to the Afghan government’s survival, and Kerry sought clarity on Afghanistan’s direction.

Kerry called on the Taliban to re-engage in peace talks dormant for almost a year, and said there was no change now in President Obama’s plans for troop levels in Afghanistan.

On Friday in Baghdad, Kerry backed efforts by Iraq’s prime minister to settle a political crisis and stressed the importance of having a “unified and functioning government” to confront the Islamic State group.

Kerry also participated in separate talks with the foreign minister on security, governance and economic development.