Kerry lays out three challenges in Afghanistan ahead of NATO summit

{mosads}“It is imperative that the Afghan government, through an independent election commission, put out the rules of the road for that election,” Kerry said. “Free and fair elections are mandatory for any chance to go forward after 2014 with any possibility of success.”

Regarding the fight against insurgents, Kerry called Pakistan’s role unacceptable.

“I am a veteran of a sanctuary war, and I know how insidious it can be,” the Vietnam War veteran said. “I personally think that it is simply not acceptable to have a zone of immunity for acts of war against armed forces and against the collective community. That means Pakistan has to become more assertive and more cooperative and we may have to resort to other kinds of self-help depending on what they resolve to do.”