KABUL - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has called on US Congress to help Afghanistan in equipping Afghan Air Force (AAF) as the Afghan national security forces are critical need of air support.

During a meeting with the US Congress delegation led by Senator Bob Corker, President Ghani said Afghanistan needs to complete the inventory of its Air Force by acquiring aircraft and helicopters, urging the US Congress delegation to assist Afghanistan in this process.

Calling terrorism a regional and global threat, President Ghani further added that Afghanistan is in the front line of facing threats from terrorism, insisting that fight against terrorism requires strategic regional and international cooperation.

President Ghani also added that the bilateral relations between Kabul and Washington is based on mutual interests and threats the two nations are facing.

Meanwhile, Senator Corker hailed the Afghan government in maintaining peace and stability, economic development and reforms in the government sector.

He reaffirmed the commitment by United States and in particular the US Congress to support Afghanistan in maintaining peace and stability in the country.

This comes as the Afghan national security forces expects to start 2016 with more capabilities as compared to the previous years in suppressing the anti-government armed militants with recent major steps taken by the international allies of Afghanistan, particularly United States and India, in boosting the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force.

Afghanistan received three of the four Mi-25 gunship helicopters from India late last year while President Ghani announced that the Afghan Air Force (AAF) will receive the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States sometimes this month.

The A-29 is a multi-role, fixed-wing aircraft that will provide the Afghan air force with an indigenous air-to-ground capability and aerial reconnaissance capabilities to support the country’s counterinsurgency operations. (KP)