Saturday, December 10, 2016
Kabul (BNA) President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his meeting discussed the country’s security and defense forces equipment, with US defense secretary, Ashton Carter who said the Afghan forces have proved that they have the capability to defeat terrorism and his country was committed to further strengthen and equip them, said the presidential press office in a statement on Friday.
“We would provide the Afghan air-force with comprehensive aids to help them crack down terrorist groups, and gain high achievements, alongside the ground forces of the country,” said the US high ranking officials. President Ghani thanked the US defense secretary for his country’s wide cooperation, particularly in equipment and financing the security and defense forces and lauded the country’s forces efforts and success in suppressing the terrorists’ safe havens, according to the agency. The president also appreciated general commander of the Resolute Support mission, Gen. Nicholson for his support to the country’s security and defense forces, said the statement. Both sides spoke about the regional security and joint war on terror as well as restoring reforms in the military sector, with the president at end conferring the high state medal of Ghazi Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan to the US defense secretary. Then both appeared at joint media meeting, with the president lauding the US for adopting its last year’s decision, the most important and historical in the field of cooperation between the two countries, said the statement adding without the US cooperation, resorting to a national consensus had been believed impossible. He made clear that the entire international partners, after 5 years, announced their support to Afghanistan security and defense forces, within the resolute support mission based in Afghanistan, according to the statement. “The people of Afghanistan can differ between foe and friend and appreciate your hard works and your troops’ devotion for Afghanistan stability,” said the president. The US defense Secretary said the main aim of his visit to Afghanistan was to meet with his country’s troops and discuss bilateral ties with the president of Afghanistan. He vowed to stay alongside the Afghan government and people and praised once again, the country’s security forces capability to suppress the enemy and that the Taliban have failed to reach their vicious targets. “By my direct suggestion, more than 8000 US troops remained in Afghanistan and would stay with further authority till 2017 and our cooperation would continue with the war-torn nation until the end of 2020,” said the defense secretary as quoted in the statement adding the international cooperation would reach to $5billion until 2020 and would stay fighting terrorism, so that the Afghanistan, region and world stability were not facing any threat. He said NATO has launched many military operations against Daesh, resulting in the death of its important leaders.
