Afghans to never accept defeat: Ghani at Pentagon

In a ceremony at the Pentagon, Afghanistan’s president is thanking U.S. troops and taxpayers for their sacrifices in nearly 14 years of war.

President Ghani noted that Afghans are sacrificed every day in the fight against terrorism.

“Terrorism is a threat, despite Afghans suffer heavy casualties in fight against terrorism but they will never accept defeat and will finally gain victory” Ghani said at the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed Ghani and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah at a ceremony in the Pentagon’s center courtyard then Ghani praised Kabul-Washington’s friendship and cooperation.

President Ashraf Ghani also offered assurances that his country would not be a burden on the international community as it continues to struggle against the Taliban and its own internal divisions.

He added that the national unity government is committed to give account for every dollar of US taxpayers.

President Ghani also urged the US troops who participated in Afghanistan combat to travel to Afghanistan as tourists.

Relations between Afghanistan and the US can be dated back to 1919, when King Amanullah, the reformist monarch of Afghanistan, dispatched the first Afghan envoy to Washington following independence from Britain.

However, full diplomatic relations were only established in 1934 and 1935, when the two countries designated ambassadors to the respective diplomatic missions.

Far from being stable, relations between the US and Afghanistan, since the establishment of diplomatic exchanges, have been characterized by inconsistent patterns of tension and collaboration.

Afghanistan and the United States have a very strong and friendly strategic partnership. In 2012, relations became even closer when the President of the United States, Barack Obama declared Afghanistan a Major non-NATO ally.