Taliban and their backers cannot win militarily, says Afghan President Ashraf Ghani

The Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said the Taliban and their backers cannot win militarily as he called on the group to engage in intra-Afghan talks to end the violence. Speaking during the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, President Ghani welcomed the announcement of the new US strategy, calling it a comprehensive which Afghans have been demanding since long ago. “The strategy consolidates all instruments of American power, conveying a message that the Taliban and their backers cannot win militarily. Only through political settlement can we achieve enduring peace and I call upon all ranks of Taliban to engage in an intra-Afghan dialogue”, he said. He also added the Afghan government has proven that we are committed to peace through our own internal processes, as demonstrated by the peace agreement with Hizb-i-Islami. “Now, we call on all of our neighbors, near and far, to join us through the Kabul process in our comprehensive quest for peace and regional stability”. According to President Ghani, today, there are over 20 international terrorist groups with an imposed presence on Afghan soil.