US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s support for Afghanistan, saying it would not allow the country’s “ruthless” Taliban enemies to succeed while describing embattled Afghan President Hamid Karzai as one of the world’s most respected leaders. The top US diplomat, who had flown from Pakistan to meet Karzai in Kabul, told a press conference with the Afghan president, following their talks at the presidential palace, that the international community stood behind Kabul’s fight against a “common enemy” that was responsible for attacks around the world. Recognising that both Taliban and Qaeda operatives had changed their tactics, Rice stressed that Kabul’s allies were working together to find new strategies against this common “thinking enemy”. “Afghanistan has determined enemies, they are ruthless but they will not succeed . . . They are simply not going to win . . . we will not allow it to happen . . . We are not going to tire, we are not going to leave. They should know that we are in this fight until it is victoriously concluded.” In a show of support for the Afghan president whose administration has lost standing amid frustration about the relentless violence and lack of significant change since the Taliban were toppled, Rice went on to say: “I don’t know anyone who is more admired and respected in the international community than President Karzai for his strength, for his wisdom and for his courage.”