The United States and France assured Saturday that the occupation in Afghanistan will continue with the same strength and effectiveness.

The United States and France assured Saturday that the occupation in Afghanistan will continue with the same strength and effectiveness.

The US State Department said that “the United States and France have agreed to work together to ensure the continued strength and effectiveness of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.”

The statement was relseased after telephone talks between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, after an Afghan soldier opened fire on French troops, killing four and wounding 15 others.

“Clinton expressed profound condolences on behalf of the American people for the deaths of four French soldiers in Afghanistan this week," the State Department’s statement said, adding that “the two parts agreed that the US and France should work together with ISAF partners and the government of Afghanistan to ensure the continued strength and effectiveness of the mission."

The statement further indicated that Clinton and Juppe discussed the “deteriorating” situation in Syria.