The government will not compromise on the Afghan security forces in the peace process, President Ashraf Ghani said on Wednesday as violence rages on in multiple fronts across the country with backdoor peace talks between the US and the Taliban moving on for the fourth day in the state of Qatar.
Speaking to members of the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces in the 205 Atal Army Corps in the southern province of Kandahar, once a traditional Taliban stronghold in the south, Ghani said that he will use all logical ways in the next two months so that peace and stability prevail in the country.
“I will not allow the disintegration of the Afghan security forces,” said Ghani, adding that corruption and ethnic issues in some extent have been undermining the development and progress of the Afghan forces that need to curb.
Ghani paid tribute to the sacrifices rendered by the Afghan forces in their campaign against insurgents and stated that the conventional Afghan security forces have bravely fought against what he described it conspiracies of the enemies who were plotting to overthrow the government in Kabul.
“We are in support of peace, but we will not make a deal on our security forces in the peace talks,” he said.
Ghani described members of the Afghan security forces as the defenders of democracy.
“You (ANDSF) are the protectors of Afghanistan’s democracy. The delay of presidential elections should not be repeated,” said Ghani.
Meanwhile, General Bek Murad Wafayee, the commander of 205 Atal Army Corps described corruption and ethnic issues a barrier on the way of development of the Afghan security forces.
“There are two fundamental issues which obstruct the development of security forces: first corruption and second ethnic an racial issues and the enemies take advantage of it today,” said Wafayee.
President Ghani will meet women and youths in Kandahar on Thursday, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.
