President Ashraf Ghani has called on Afghan forces to stay united and act based on the Constitution. The president said ‘minor’ politics have no place among the Afghan National Defense and Security Force members. 

Addressing the Special Operations Corps in Kabul on Friday, Ghani appreciated the ‘sacrifices’ of Afghan soldiers in foiling insurgent attacks. 

“All of us will act based on the Constitution of Afghanistan,” Ghani told the troops. “The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are national, committed to the national unity, the role models of national unity and the tool for implementation of the Constitution. Minor politics have no place among them.” 

Meanwhile, the president stressed the need to hold on time and transparent parliamentary and district councils’ elections. 

“We are sure that security forces will ensure the safety of the elections and I am assure that people’s safety will be ensured during upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections,” Ghani added.  

Ghani said he visited the military corps headquarters to address the challenges faced by the Afghan forces. He assigned Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Army Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Mohammad Sharif Yaftali to address the problems of soldiers’ families.

At the same event, the defense minister said the Afghan security forces have changed the course of war to their own benefit.

“Afghan security forces, especially the commandos have changed the course of war to their own benefits and I am proud of all of you,” said Bahrami. 

This comes after Afghan forces have intensified their military operation in parts of the country as part of their winter mission to eliminate insurgents. However, insecurity has raised in some parts including Helmand province in the south and Faryab province in the north of Afghanistan.