Ghani at SCO: Afghanistan is in First Line of Defense of Many Countries

Addressing the seventh meeting of State Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday Astana of Kazakhstan,  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Afghanistan is in first line of defense of many countries around the state, “we are dying to defend you.”

Ashraf Ghani said the threat imposed by transnational terrorists networks and transnational criminal organization are a significant obstacle to their common vision and aspiration.

“20 transnational terrorist organizations unleashed a total war against civilians, our society and our state institutions,” Ghani said.

” I am here to offer sincere  and expanded cooperation against terrorist groups threatening any and all members of the Shanghai Cooperation in equally against the transnational criminal organizations, threatening all of us.”

Ghani expressed hope that the SCO members will rally support for a comprehensive SCO strategy against terrorism and narcotics including export of “precursors”  from their countries.  

He described that the scale of the activity stretches their resources and determining them to wipe out Islamic State (Daesh) presence in Afghanistan this year or “radically” reduce it.  

“Your assistance in wholehearted support will enable us to act faster,” he added.

The President also welcomed the Shanghai Cooperation framework against terrorism, he said they need a systematic regional dialogue on a consist approach to classification of terrorist organizations, defining criterion mechanism for state relationship to terrorism and “some who sponsor it and agreeing to collective measures for preventing and preempting transnational terrorism.”

Referring to last week’s deadly truck bombing in Kabul that left over 150 dead, President Ghani concluded: “Our people demand justice, we hope that coherent and systematic action can assure them and all victims of terrorism that we can overcome this evil.”