President Ashraf Ghani held a joint press conference in Kabul on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Defense Secretary James Mattis after holding talks behind closed doors with the two leaders.

Both Mattis and Stoltenberg made an unannounced visit to Kabul and arrived early Wednesday morning.

Speaking at the press conference, it appeared that the three leaders had discussed a wide range of issues.

Taking to the podium, Ghani called on India, Russia and other countries in the region to come together to help mobilize against the fight against terrorism.

Ghani also said Afghanistan wants an Afghan-owned peace process and called on insurgents to join the peace process.

In addition he stated government had drawn up a four-year military plan that has been approved by NATO.

In turn Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, said: “We count on Afghan government to make good on its commitments on key reforms and that NATO supports peace.”

He said that “with NATO’s help, Afghan forces have come a very long way and we will continue to train, advise and assist” the Afghan security forces.

Stoltenberg also said that NATO has pleaded to increase troop numbers and welcomes the US’s conditions-based approach to Afghanistan.

He said however that corruption was a serious concern and that thousands of civilians have lost their lives in the Afghan conflict over the years.

NATO’s chief said the organization's troops were in Afghanistan to make the country safer along with safeguarding NATO alliance countries and that his presence in Kabul along with that of Mattis reflects their commitment to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile Mattis said that the coalition will do everything possible to help ensure security in Afghanistan and welcomes the Afghan government’s reforms proposal.

He said that the coalition will not allow al-Qaeda, Haqqani and other insurgent groups to gain a foothold in the country and that all efforts will be made to secure Afghanistan

Mattis also said instability in South Asia is a threat to the world but believes Afghanistan will have a better future and better security.

According to him, the three leaders discussed the new strategy and how it will be implemented in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Mattis also stated that the Taliban do not respect the people of Afghanistan and intentionally use civilians in ways that results in their deaths.

He also said that the US’s new strategy was an opportunity for Pakistan to fight terrorism.

Ghani said in answer to a question that Afghanistan was ready for peace and that the ball is in Pakistan’s court. He says government’s job is to look towards the future.

Mattis meanwhile said the US wants to speak openly with Pakistan about allegations of them providing safe havens to terrorists Afghanistan

On the issue of the closure of the Taliban’s office in Qatar, Ghani said that any such decision would have to be initiated by Kabul.