KABUL (SW) – The British Prime Minister Theresa May assured U.K's full support to build regional consensus for peace in Afghanistan during a meeting with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier this week.
On this occasion, a new aid package totaling £170 million was announced by UK International Development Secretary Rory Stewart for Afghanistan. The package will provide urgent food, water and medical help, including polio vaccinations for children.
“The humanitarian need in Afghanistan is severe,” International Development Secretary Rory Stewart said after meeting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in London.
“Fighting and extreme drought have left millions of people hungry and desperately seeking medical help, which is why UK aid is responding with life-saving food, water and basic healthcare, including polio vaccinations.” An estimated 13.5 million Afghans need humanitarian aid to ensure there is enough food for themselves and their families, Britain’s development ministry said
According to the Arg (presidency) in Kabul, Ghani called upon May at the 10 Downing Street in London in the afternoon for a formal summit following an official invitation. ''President Ghani thanked for Britain's lasting cooperation with Afghanistan, and said the British government's role for building regional consensus for the Afghan peace process is important and valuable'', it added.
Premier May's office said in a series of tweets that the two leaders also discussed the upcoming Presidential elections in Afghanistan and agreed that these must be credible and transparent. ''On regional stability, the Prime Minister welcomed the steps toward peace in Afghanistan that President Ghani has taken, as well as his talks with Prime Minister (Imran) Khan of Pakistan. The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for these efforts'', it said.
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