Afghan President Predicts Tough Times Ahead

President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday predicted tough times ahead and thus warned the Afghan security and defensive forces to be well prepared for the challenges.

“We have the next three difficult weeks ahead. We need full preparation because the undeclared war has changed to a declared war,” Afghan president said while speaking to a joint meeting with the country’s security institutions.

The meeting was attended by the Resolute Support commander, Afghan defense minister, interior minister, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief and other high-ranking Afghan military officials at the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

President Ghani also praised the Afghan security forces for their sacrifices and for defending the country.

“Although, a hundred and thirty thousand international forces have withdrawn from Afghanistan, but our national security and defensive forces could prevent from the occurrence of a tough situation,” Ghani added.

He continued that militants planed to capture three to six provinces after withdrawal of the international troops, but Afghan forces powerfully foiled their plots.

Afghan President said the 2017 year will be the year of fundamental mobility and further eyed victory in 2019.

Meanwhile Ghani concerned over high causality among security forces and the problems with the forces logistics.

“I really felt shame when I hear that our security forces went for 15 or 29 days with only rice or only bread,” President Ghani question,” what are our intelligence services doing?”

“I want solutions to these complaints. It is not a request but an order and it must be implemented,” he continued.

These remarks comes as militants have intensified high-profile attacks against the Afghan forces during the last couple of months aiming to capture strategic locations in north and south of Afghanistan.

By: Hesamuddin Hesam