UK supports Afghanistan, Pakistan fight against terrorism

KABUL (Pajhwok): UK Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Nick Carter has reaffirmed the UK’s continued commitment to work with both Afghanistan and Pakistan as partners in the fight against terrorism in the region, a statement said on Tuesday.

“General Sir Nick Carter and Tom Drew, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Director General for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, travelled to Afghanistan at the invitation of President Ghani. As part of the visit, they participated in a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, which included discussions on the Afghan peace process.

A British Embassy spokesperson said: “We were delighted to have General Sir Nick Carter and Tom Drew visiting the British Embassy and meeting British Forces in Afghanistan. This demonstrates the ongoing UK commitment to support Afghanistan.  The UK-Afghanistan relationship is as strong as ever, and as we transition to a new phase of international support for Afghanistan, we will support the Government of Afghanistan, including its efforts to counter terrorism, through our diplomatic, development, and security assistance work.

We are proud of what our Armed Forces, diplomats, and development specialists have achieved in Afghanistan. Their work has been critical to reducing the threat of terrorism and building the foundations for a peace process.

As General Sir Nick Carter confirmed during his visit, the UK, will continue to provide assistance to the ANDSF, including through financial support and through offering training to Afghan soldiers and officers in the UK. We are proud to have served alongside the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) and to have played a role in developing these professional and capable armed forces, and we look forward to continuing to support them in future.”

The UK, alongside its NATO allies, has built and equipped security institutions; trained 5,000 cadets, including over 300 women; and supported a stable election process.

The ANDSF have taken the lead in defending Afghanistan since 15 January and are now 350,000 strong; they continue to increase their capabilities. The UK will continue to support the Afghan Security Forces, including through offering training to Afghan soldiers and officers in the UK and through financial support to the ANDSF.

Pr/nh

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