- President Ashraf Ghani says Taliban should know that they cannot win on the battlefield
KABUL: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has said that the country has been able to defend its national interest against Pakistan after four decades.
In an address to military forces in Paktia province, Ghani said, “Our 40 years’ demands would not have been accepted if we were not successful in our foreign policy. Previously we were waiting to talk with Pakistan equally, but now we hold talks with Pakistan with an honour and we preserve our interests in these talks,” Afghan media reported.
Ghani further said that the world has heard Afghanistan’s voice on counter-terrorism efforts and that the Taliban must know they cannot win the war. “You (enemies) should know that Afghanistan’s strategic situation has changed and you (Taliban) cannot win on the battlefields,” he added.
The Afghan president also mentioned that the number of Afghan Air Force will be doubled in the near future. “Our air support has been doubled in the past two weeks and now our martyred and wounded army and police force members will not remain on the battlefields,” he added.
Meanwhile, Paktia governor Shamim Katawazai urged Ghani to fulfil his promises for the development of the province.