Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, US President Donald Trump declared he could win the war in Afghanistan in a matter of days.
"If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week... Afghanistan would be wiped off the face of the Earth," he said.
"It would be gone. It would be over, literally, in 10 days."
The comments were made several times during the meeting with Prime Minister Khan, who is on his first official visit to Washington.
"I just don't want to kill 10 million people. Does that make sense to you? I don't want to kill 10 million people," President Trump told reporters.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is on his first official visit to Washington. Source: ABACA
He said the US could "go one of two ways," suggesting it could win the war "very quickly," but added he'd rather work with his Pakistani-counterpart to bring an end to the nearly 18-year-old conflict.
"I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that because you're talking about millions of people, and I don't want to do that. And we're working with Pakistan on getting a solution. And I think, I think it's being worked very well."
Washington is hoping to reach a political agreement with the Taliban before the September Presidential election Afghanistan.
This would pave the way for US troops to withdraw, bringing America's longest war to an end.
He said the US has made a lot of progress in Afghanistan in recent weeks, thanks to Pakistan.
"We're working with Pakistan, and with as you know when negotiated with the Taliban, and we are doing I think very well in that regard."
"There is only one solution, and I feel, and I think that we will discuss this, is the closest we have been to a peace deal," he said.
"And we hope that in the coming days we will be able to urge the Taliban to speak to the Afghan government and come to a settlement -a political solution."
Reviving relations
Last year, the US President cut $300 million in security aid to Pakistan - a move that escalated already simmering tensions between the two countries.
The US and Afghanistan have in the past accused Islamabad of supporting extremist groups, including the Taliban.
Mr Trump made direct accusations last year, saying the country had given a "safe haven" to militants, adding it has "given us nothing but lies and deceit.”
Pakistan denied the accusations.
But the meeting signaled a warming of relations, with the US president praising Mr Khan's leadership.
"A lot of things are happening for the United States, and I think a lot of great things are going to be happening for Pakistan under your leadership," he said.
He blamed past tensions on his predecessors, saying Islamabad "did not respect US leadership."
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. Source: AP
"Look, I don't think Pakistan respected the United States," Mr Trump said.
"I don't think Pakistan respected its presidents. And I think Pakistan could have done a lot, I think Pakistan can do a tremendous amount against, with respect to Afghanistan. They didn't do it, and I don't blame them because they were dealing with the wrong president."
Mr Khan returned the praise.
"I always believed there was no military solution. I have to compliment President Trump, because he has now forced people to end the war."
