Kabul (September 28, 2017): United States Defense Secretary James Mattis has said that Haqqani network, extremists and other militants will not be allowed to flourish in Afghanistan on Wednesday. While addressing a joint press conference with Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg, Mattis reiterated that Haqqani network and extremists will not be allowed to reorganize in Afghanistan.Speaking during the joint press conference,
Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said the Taliban group has an option to serve for the outsiders and join the international terrorism or renounce violence, join peace, and work for the development of the country.
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President Ghani further added that the Afghan forces are getting stronger as each day passes and are becoming capable of defending the country, warning those pursuing violence will be crushed and cornered and the history will judge regarding their actions.
In regards to the peace efforts, President Ghani said the Afghan government wants to approach peace in two paths, including peace negotiations with Pakistan on government to government level, insisting that peace in Afghanistan will not be harmful to any other country but instead will result into regional development.
He said the other path would be an intra-Afghan and Afghan-led peace process and negotiations, insisting that no one would be able to force the Afghans to accept their demands.
President Ghani said there is no doubt that the best way forward is peace talks and the government is always ready to participate in intra-Afghan peace talks.
While the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg said the Taliban group cannot win on the battlefield. The Secretary General said there is much the group can gain around the negotiating table.
Stoltenberg further added that the alliance does not quit when the going gets tough as he insisted that NATO keep promises. The NATO Secretary General in the meantime said continued efforts are needed towards a lasting and inclusive political solution.
He also welcomed the pledge by the NATO member countries for the contribution of more troops and said around 13,000 troops from 39 nations are currently serving with the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission.
The NATO Secretary General also welcomed the condition-based approach to the situation in Afghanistan as pledged by the US President and insisted that the alliance counts on the Afghan government to make good on its commitments on key reforms.
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