KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said last solar year was the year of Afghanistan’s survival but the new year was the year of action when the government would be ready for fundamental reforms.
While meeting representatives of public councils and elders from Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Ghazni, Logar and Maidan Wardak provinces and representatives of Kuchi tribe, Ghani discussed with them issues concerning security, health, roads, recruitment of experts, construction of dams, prevention of land grabbing, corruption and smuggling and problems Kuchis faced with regard to grazing land and other issues.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said the president told the elders that participation in the government was people’s right, but people should be recruited based on merit.
He said there was budget this year for construction of 29 small dams, but the ministries concerned still lacked enough capacity to spend the fund properly.
The country could be built with a strong intention, he said, adding 600 newly graduated military personnel Monday went to southern Helmand as part of the nation’s strong intention, while some weak youth were fleeing from the country.
“Last year was the year of survival and this year is the year of action,” he said, adding the international community was going to leave the country, but the government convinced them to continue cooperation in different spheres with the country.
He said the war had been imposed on Afghanistan which passed through seven phase of the war in the past one year.
The enemy wanted to capture some provinces during the past year but Afghan security and defence forces bravely fought against them, he said. “We are ready for basic reforms and fight this year,” he said.
“We would reach an agreement with Pakistan on peace and we are talking with the country on the transit direction,” he said. (Pajhwok)