Australian minister vows continued assistance with Afghanistan

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne has said her country would continue assistance with Afghanistan in higher education and military sectors. Marise Payne said this in a meeting with Afghan President Muhammad Ashraf at the Presidential Palace after arriving in Kabul.

According to a presidential office press release available with Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), Afghan Chief of Army Staff General Muhammad Sharif Yaftali also attended the meeting. Both the sides discussed various key issues, including expansion of bilateral cooperation, war on terrorism and training of Afghan forces, the press release stated.

Marise Payne offered condolence on the behalf of the people and government of Australian to the residents and administration of Afghanistan over the recent incidents of terrorism. She said Australia was keen to extend assistance to Afghanistan in higher education and military sectors.

She said the government of Australia supported the stance and strategy of Kabul administration for peace, war on terror and expansion o regional cooperation. She vowed her country would continue assistance with the people and government of Afghanistan in the future. On the occasion, President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani lauded the assistance of Australia in civil and military sectors of Afghanistan.

He said the Afghan defense ministry would follow the necessary arrangements for the assistance of Australia in the military sector of Afghanistan. Currently, hundreds of Australian troops are stationed in Afghanistan to provide training and counseling to Afghan forces under the umbrella of NATO’s Resolute Support.