Ghani Emphasises Terrorist Threats, Backs New US Strategy

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani addressed the UN General Assembly earlier today in a speech that praised US plans to send thousands more troops to the country amid the longstanding fight against terrorism. “With President Trump’s recent announcement of his strategy to counter terrorism and bring stability to South Asia, Afghanistan’s enduring partnership with the US has been renewed and re-directed,” Ghani said. Ghani stressed that the strategy coveys a message that the Taliban and their backers cannot win militarily. He also called upon Pakistan to engage with Afghanistan on a comprehensive state -to- state dialogue on peace, security and regional cooperation leading to prosperity. According to Ghani, “For too long the conflict in Afghanistan has been viewed through the presence of civil war but this is not, this war is not within our soil its over our soil.” US President Donald Trump last month announced a new strategy for Afghanistan that includes sending 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan, in addition to about 8,400 US and 5,000 NATO troops advising Afghan security forces.