Durable peace and security, development, counter-terrorism and extremism and strengthening relations between Afghanistan and Australia in diverse fields were discussed when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani hosted Australian Governor General David Harley Wednesday afternoon at Presidential Palace.
Australian Governor General David Harley accompanied by Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell and senior government officials arrived Kabul after a visit to United Arab Emirates.
President Ghani welcomed the Australian Governor and thanked the Australian military and civilian cooperation with Afghanistan, said a statement issued by the President Office.
“Our peace efforts are not only for Afghanistan, but the process has regional aspects. Our efforts are to end the last four decades of war which is the main demand of the people of Afghanistan”, President Ghani told Governor General.
He said that Afghanistan is working on its own programs for peace, but the presence of Taliban hideouts outside Afghanistan, the relationship of the Taliban with terrorists and drug groups are the main obstacles in the peace process.
Referring the defeat of ISIS in Afghanistan, President Ghani said that the focus of the Afghan security and defense forces is on the fight against terrorism as terrorism still exists as a threat to the Afghan allies who need a joint war.
Australian Governor congratulated the President and the people of Afghanistan on the successful presidential elections and praised the efforts of the country’s security and defense forces to ensure the security of the process.
Mr Hurley said his country supports Afghanistan’s position in the peace process and will continue to support Afghanistan’s security and defense forces and its country’s priorities for development and stability.
Governor-General said that Australia wants further development of bilateral relations with Afghanistan and keen to share its experiences in the fields of mining, education, agriculture and water management with Afghanistan.
