Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is ready to hold government-to-government talks with Pakistan, ToloNews reported on Friday.

“We remain committed as a partner to counter terrorist threats in the region and are ready to expand our cooperation with all countries,” Ghani said while addressing the seventh Hearth of Asia Conference (HoA) in Azerbaijan.

“We all have shared responsibilities and Afghanistan is ready to cooperate with all stakeholders in this arena,” he added.

Afghan President Ghani said: “We ask for full regional cooperation to establish mechanisms of verification and coordination for the elimination of this threat [terrorism].”

The war against terrorism is not just an Afghan or regional problem, he said, adding that the fifth wave of political violence and terrorism is a threat to all humanity.

Sharing the achievements of Afghan forces in counter-terrorism operations and its campaign against drugs, he said: “In a series of operations by our special forces and commandos, we have destroyed assets estimated at $50-70 million. These operations will not only continue but will become an integral part of our four-year comprehensive security plan.”

He also claimed that the militant Islamic State (IS) has been defeated in the country. “Daesh [an acronym used for the IS ] is isolated from external support. They are running out of weapons, supplies, and fighters – what’s left of Daesh is stuck in the mountains to starve and die,” he claimed.

Talking about his future plans for the country, he said the government will increase the number of Afghan Special Forces and the Air Force.

“I am doubling the size of my Special Security Forces and tripling the size of the Air Force to defeat the terrorists and further secure the population," he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...