Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, addressing the special session of the Afghan Parliament held today, August 2, said the people of Afghanistan are exposed to a “blatant aggression” that is staged by the Taliban insurgents.
The special session of the Afghan Parliament was held at a critical time as violence has intensified, with the Taliban insurgents are trying to gain more territory.
President Ghani thanked the Afghan security and defense forces for their courage, saying that Afghan security and defense forces are the defenders of Afghan lives. “Let me make it clear, our people are exposed to a blatant aggression that is based on intrigue and hypocrisy,” the Afghan president said. He underlined that fighting against an occupying force is the religious responsibility of every individual.
Concern grows in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgents are pushing for a military takeover of major Afghan cities. Last Friday, the insurgents launched a military campaign in the outskirts of western Herat city. The Afghan forces backed by forces loyal to a veteran jihadi commander, Ismail Khan, have pushed the insurgents out of the area.
The Taliban insurgents are trying to gain more territory across the country. On Saturday morning the Taliban militants made advancement in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province, but the local government called an airstrike near a hospital where the insurgents were forcing medical staff and doctors to treat wounded insurgents. The insurgents also targeted the main Herat compound of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
“We have made our decision. We either sit on negotiating table knee to knee with the Taliban or cut their knees on the battleground.”
He said that Afghanistan will not return to the gloomy past and Taliban era. Ghani said the Afghan government is committed and determined to protect the achievements Afghanistan has made over the last 20 years and it will defend women’s rights and freedom of speech. The Afghan president urged the people to stay strong and united against the Taliban insurgency.
