KABUL (SW): In the wake of growing militant attacks, the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani made it clear on Monday that the Kabul government would not be pressurized to enter peace talks with a weak position.
After taking the office in September last year, the President extended an olive branch to the Taliban and simultaneously inked the Bilateral Strategic Agreement (BSA) with the U.S. to ensure a minimum deterrence against the enemy that counting the days for foreign forces to leave the war-torn country.
On their part, the Taliban too have been playing their both cards i.e. engaging with the government representatives for informal talks last month first in Doha, Qatar and later in Urumqi, China and also going ahead with their brazen spring offensives in Afghanistan.
Lately, the apparent surge of violence in the relatively peaceful northern and western parts of the country seems to have upset the Kabul government.
While visiting western Herat province on Monday, President Ghani said enemies of the land wanted to disrupt the economy by destabilizing these parts of the country. “The enemy is attempting to disrupt security in Northern provinces to sabotage the implementation of economic projects", Ghani told the Afghan National Army (ANA) officers in Herat.
"Afghans will respond with force in the war imposed on us," he said. The President categorically said that the “enemy wants us weak but we are negotiating from a position of strength.” referring to the ongoing anti-terrorist operations at some 21 fronts across the country.
Ghani praised the sacrifices and bravery of the Afghan forces and assured them about the government and people’s un-shattering support. “Our strong security forces would give befitting response to the enemy, no one should be in any illusion about the wisdom and capabilities of our forces”, he added.
He also spoke about the thousands of religious leaders who recently announced their support for the security forces in the fight against terrorism. Ashraf Ghani stressed that vigorous efforts were underway to strengthen the country’s air force.
ENDS
