Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to US President Barack Obama and other leaders for extending their resolute support in strengthening security, economic and political cooperation in his country.
"On security, our key goal was to generate peace. I had to become a war President because an all-out war has been imposed on us. We have gone from several phases of war, each more intense than the previous one. But I am extremely proud as the commander in chief of the Afghan forces to share that the main objective of our enemies that was divide Afghanistan in two political geographies has not been realised," Ghani said in his address at the Heart of Asia Summit here.
"We, our people have paid a huge price. Our children have been martyred while playing in fields. Our women have been martyred while going for shopping. Our mosques and hospitals have been attacked. All spaces of public gathering have been viciously attacked, but I hope our will and resilience have been demonstrated," he added.
Ghani further said the international forces will not have a combat room.
"The Afghan forces are fully assuming the responsibility but our true friends have come to help us. We express gratitude for this international solidarity," he said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had earlier reiterated Islamabad's commitment and support to Afghanistan and said that the nation was more than a neighbour as they shared a common religion and cultural affinity since time immemorial.
"Due to close bonds between our people, Pakistan has always stood by Afghanistan. I reiterate what I said in Kabul on 12th May that enemies of Afghanistan are Pakistan's enemies as well," Sharif said.
He asserted that Pakistan will continue to support the Afghanistan-led peace process and called upon the international community to extend full support to the Afghan peace effort.
