President Ghani Vows to Prevent Further Instability in Afghanistan amid Taliban Offensive

INA-sources

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has pledged to prevent further instability in his country in the face of the Taliban's ongloing offensive.

"As your president, my focus is on preventing further instability, violence and displacement of my people", he said during an address to the nation on Saturday, stressing that under the current situation, remobilising the Afghan security and defense forces remains the government’s top priority.

The Afghan president expressed hope that the international community will "stand in support" of Kabul's efforts to stop the violence. 

The address comes the Taliban announced the capture of Sharana, the capital of the southeastern Afghan province of Paktika, on Saturday. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that the building of the governor administration, the police headquarters, and other public buildings were 

now under control of the Taliban.

On Friday, the militant group said that it seized the capital of Logar province, Pol-e Alam, located some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Kabul.

This followed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging the militants to immediately end their offensive on Afghanistan and sit down for talks.

I call on the Taliban to immediately halt the offensive and to negotiate in good faith in the interest of Afghanistan and its people, Guterres said in a statement on Friday.

Source: Sputnik