PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN ASHRAF GHANI: In the name of Allah, the entirely merciful, the especially merciful, your excellency secretary of defense and the delegation along with you, on behalf of the people of Afghanistan, and on behalf of the Afghanistan national defense security forces and the government of Afghanistan, you are a great friend and strategic partner of Afghanistan (inaudible) of Afghanistan.
First, on behalf of the Afghanistan national defense security forces, would like to thank all the American soldiers, men and women, who have stood alongside mine, the Afghan forces, and for our freedom, particularly those who have lost their lives, we’d like to express our gratitude and thanks, and would like to request to your excellency to please pass our deepest gratitudes and continuously our condolences please share them with the great families there.
And also, one million men and women who have the security uniform, and who have helped us on our soil, under your command, thank you very much. Every time you see them, please express the deepest gratitudes of the people of Afghanistan to them.
First, I’d like to thank our Afghanistan national defense security forces. After the completion of transition, on which we work together, the honest children of this land, at the cost of their blood, earned the freedom and maintained that freedom.
And from you, and from his excellency President Obama I would like to thank for having respected their sacrifice and in Warsaw conference having taken very significant decision, thank you very much.
Your first decision is to fund the Afghanistan national defense security forces for the next three years and of course and army can’t move without- without resources, and our promise, our promise from our end, is a very clear program, and it is that every single penny of every dollar- every Afghani- will be in a transparent manner, given accountability for. We are decisive that we will increase our share as we proved last year, as we proved last year, despite the fact the economic situation over Afghanistan was very bad, we still increased our share to support the Afghanistan national security forces and we will continue on that.
But, the resources that come from outside will be used with absolute transparency, as I said in Warsaw conference, we will want to bring them with the conditions, and it is that there should be a very clear management system making sort of a system with which we could do it and at the same time we are committed. We are determined to develop our economy, so that by the end of the three years, we will be able to take over a bigger share of the needs of our national defense security forces (inaudible).
Secondly, we’d like to thank you for your decision, General Nicholson been given special authorities. I want on behalf of the Afghanistan national defense security forces and on behalf of the chief of the security of Afghanistan I would like to thank General Nicholson and his colleagues.
General Campbell, General Nicholson, have made their maximum efforts they have stood alongside by us, they have not looked at it if it were a day or night. There has not been a time where they have not responded positively to our needs and that they will have not in a very dedicated manner stood alongside by us. They have served a few times in Afghanistan, but this time this is a very special phase and we were very, very grateful. And the authorities given to them, each authority, is equal to 20,000 armed forces, I must say, and this is a great trust, and as a result of this, all those things that last year we could do in three months or six months, now we can do it in three hours, or we can do it in three days. And, our Afghanistan national security forces are grateful for the support of General Nicholson all his colleagues and we, minister of defense, are also very grateful to you.
The third point, and the decision is with regards, to the existence, the presence of 8,400 troops in Afghanistan. From you, and from his excellency President Obama, we are very grateful, and the reason is that President Obama had promised to the great nation of America, that the number of forces in Afghanistan would reduce. The reason why he has changed his decision and the reason why he has taken this decision is because of the change in context. It’s because of the change in the environment. The transition was based on this assumption that the terrorism is going to end, that the issue of al-Qaeda is almost ending, and in 2012, no one will have predicted ISIL the (inaudible). The situation has changed; the context has changed.
But, particularly the government of Afghanistan will always wanted peace against the armed forces and against our neighbors. We have pursued peace. We have made all the efforts for peace and they were all rejected, and forces that do not have any targets, they do not have any visions for a proper future of Afghanistan, they try to take Afghanistan to destruction. I mentioned this yesterday to my distinguished colleagues. A bridge that is built with $2 million that can mix the people so that the children can go to school, so that the women can go to the hospitals or clinics, a pregnant woman can seek health services and a farmer can take its products to the market, for only $1,000 they explode it. For only $1,000. So there is a need, that in a very clear manner, we must understand that the constitution of Afghanistan is our vision. The government of Afghanistan is committed to implement the constitution. The rules, the rights given to our women, to our children, to every individual will be respected in any decisions.
The decision that the U.S. government has taken is a decision for the future and the future generations of Afghanistan. So, it has developed an environment of confidence and trust and this is a very clear message.
For those who do not want peace, for those who do not want stability- a clear message has been given to them. That they will not win in the battlefield for all the ill desires they have. And once again, I very want- I very clearly want to mention that our commitment to our people is based on transparency, it is based on fight against administrative corruption, it is based on the human resource management.
So, there is no difference of views between us and our strategic ally, the United States of America. Corruption is also very-- very dangerous— we are committed to human rights, we are committed to children’s rights, and we have a clear hope that the future of Afghanistan Allah willing will be a bright future, and that together, these threats that exist in Paris, Brussels, in the United States of America that we will join in the fight against this.
Once again I would like to thank you, and I would like to request to your excellency to please express your views. Thank you.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASHTON CARTER: Thank you so much, Mr. President.
Nice to see everyone. Good afternoon.
It's very good for me to be back once again here in Afghanistan, and it's always an honor to be here with President Ghani.
This is my third trip as secretary of defense. I've been here many times before that as well. And my visit comes on the heels of three major decisions that the United States has made.
First, to enhance the authorities of our ground commanders, commanded by General Nicholson.
Second, to maintain our financial commitment to the Afghan security forces.
And third, to retain a more substantial U.S. force presence into 2017.
I'm also pleased to report that our allies with whom both President Ghani and C.E. Abdullah, as well as I and of course President Obama, met in Warsaw last week, those allies also intend to remain fully committed to the Resolute Support mission here in Afghanistan and to assisting the Afghan security forces.
I've had a very productive day here of meetings, and my wide-ranging conversations both with President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah, as well as their security ministers, reaffirmed to me that we have strong partners here, with a common vision focused on a secure and prosperous future for the Afghan people.
It was a pleasure to meet for the first time with my new counterpart, Minister Habibi, as well as Minister of Interior Jahid, to discuss the future of our security partnership and the progress of the Afghan national defense and security forces since taking full responsibility in January, 2015. I look forward to working with them in the weeks and months ahead.
As the coalition partners reiterated at the NATO summit in Warsaw last week, where they confirmed their commitment to financial sustainment to Afghan's forces and the continuation of the Resolute Support mission, the Afghan security forces have demonstrated the motivation, the will, and the resilience in the face of a persistent enemy.
I have confidence in the ability of the Afghan forces to provide for the security and stability that the Afghan people deserve. And I commend them for fighting courageously last year during a tough fighting season and for their continued dedication in the face of formidable challenges this year.
And in fact, Afghan security forces continue to step up. For the second year now, Afghan forces are fully responsible for their own security and every day -- every day, nearly 320,000 Afghan soldiers and police are serving and fighting courageously, and many, far too many, have paid the ultimate price. I join President Ghani in honoring their sacrifices.
Now, with Afghan forces taking even further lead for security, we are looking to build upon their successes to find ways to support and enable them more effectively. With that in mind, we also discussed President Obama's announcement last week regarding our troop levels, an adjustment I recommended after consulting with General Nicholson, General Votel and General Dunford.
Maintaining a U.S. force presence in Afghanistan of 8,400 troops will enhance our ability to continue progress on our two most central missions here in Afghanistan: training, advising and assisting Afghan forces so that they can secure their nation; and supporting counterterrorism operations that prevent the use of the territory of this nation as a safe haven for terrorists against all of us.
Finally, we discussed President Obama's recent decision to grant additional flexibility to the U.S. commander here in Afghanistan -- flexibility that will maximize the use and effectiveness of our forces that are already here in Afghanistan to support Afghan forces. Earlier today, I met with General Nicholson to review the ways in which these additional authorities are being utilized to support Afghan security forces and pursue our counterterrorism objectives.
This added flexibility, coupled with the new integration of the A-29 and MD-530 close-air support platforms, reflects our determination to seize every opportunity possible to use our resources in theater to the greatest possible effect.
We're prepared to take these steps because we have a strong and stable partner in Afghanistan. President Ghani, in partnership with Chief Executive Abdullah, is advancing crucial reforms that are critical to securing the future for this nation. Progress on reforms is central to continued international funding commitments and I encourage President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah to continue moving forward.
So President Ghani, thank you for hosting me and our forces here, for the close working relationship you and I have shared over many years. I remember the first thing you did when I introduced you in the Pentagon courtyard in March 2015. And by the way, I'm not the only one who remembers this very well. Many American remember this very well.
You said thank you to the men and women of the U.S. military for the sacrifices they and their families have made over the previous 14 years. And you also took the time to visit Arlington National Cemetery to remember the fallen. It was a deeply appreciated gesture. Thank you.
And I want to take this similar opportunity while I'm here, Mr. President, to deliver my own message to the Afghan people who have put themselves at risk and sacrificed so much to bring us to this point of promise, potential and strength. We're with you. We stand by you. And we will continue to work hard together to finish the mission we started.
Finally, I want to thank General Nicholson and our NATO partners for the work they do here every day to ensure a bright future for the Afghan people and a strong security partner for us all.
And I think of all of the American, NATO and Afghan troops who have served and sacrificed together over the past 15 years in the name of peace, security and freedom, and who continue that mission today.
With that, thank you. And I think we'll be happy to take some questions.
STAFF (translated): Thank you very much, your excellency. President and your excellency secretary of defense, we’ll take the questions, we’ll first take two questions from the Afghan media and the media that has come, two questions from the media that has come from the outside.
Q (translated): Thank you. I’m (inaudible) Hosseini, from the radio television Afghanistan, most welcome, your excellency secretary of defense, you mentioned most specifically about your forces that would be 8,400. Now, if you could more specifically tell us about the authorities, because when we know about Afghanistan, I mean terrorism coming from the outside, so fighting against the terrorism, what, how much authorities they have.
Your excellency, president of Afghanistan, the question I have to you- in Warsaw conference, international community made specific commitment to funding. So what is the guarantee to the international community that you’ve given? I mean, how will these be used so that they are not lost?
SEC. CARTER: Well, sir, first of all, General Nicholson has been given by myself and President Obama very broad authorities against terrorism. And that's true for him here in Afghanistan. It's true for U.S. forces around the world.
What is a critical difference that the general is now able to make use of, an important change in authorities in the last few months, is basically this. In a nutshell, it is the ability for General Nicholson, along with his Afghan colleagues, to anticipate battlefield dynamics and to deploy and employ their forces together in a way that stops a situation from deteriorating; interrupts an enemy in the early stages of planning and formulating an attack.
And quite simply, previously his instructions were to -- essentially obliged him to wait until a situation had already developed and then begin to act with his Afghan partners. And that's not as good a way of using his forces. So it's a very logical thing. I think most people can understand what it is. It's a very simple thing, but it's a very important thing. And it will be and is already being a very powerful thing on the battlefield.
PRES. GHANI (translated): Thank you. First, we have, we have moved by action, not by words only. We went with action to Warsaw. Not words. You know, you know about last year. You all know about last year that we had a lot of problems from the economic point of view. Afghanistan was able to increase its revenues 22 percent. 22 percent we were able to increase our values- it required determination it required commitment, it required forethought. Procurement. 57 procurement sessions have been led by me only, and only with regards to the food, ministry of defense, Mr. Stanekzai, and the (inaudible) minister I’d like to thank 1.6 billion Afghani has been saved. And, we will spend this on the families of martyrs and the ones who were injured. A proper consolidated system of raise, retirement; the fundamental thing is that we establish a trusted sort of a system.
Every soldier and every police officer- every police man and woman will be verified, will be based on the biometrics, we will be sure that yes, they exist, and yes, that the system is that everyone should be sure that they come only based on the competency and they can serve at the highest level of the Afghanistan national defense security forces. The significant commitment we have is the commitment of our soldiers- of our officers, of our NCOs, of our childrens. The fact that they have proven with their courage and even have not even cared about their lives, have shown.
More than 500 of them have graduated, and 13 of them were girls. After one week, most of them are in the front line, in Helmand and in Uruzgan, fighting against the enemy. This is how the commitment comes, and a very clear and a very transparent vision as to whatever our people asking the same that that we have made the commitment to the international community as well.
STAFF: The next question now- Reuters?
Q: Thank you, President Ghani, you just said that there is no strategic difference of views between your government and that of the United States. But there often seems to be a difference of views within your own government. Both your own Vice President Dostum and Chief Executive Abdullah have expressed dissatisfaction.
Can you commit and -- and do you have confidence that your government has the political support it needs to carry out the very difficult reforms and anticorruption measures that you've promised to both NATO and the United States? And do you have the political support it needs to create a stable government that can defeat the Taliban?
And for Secretary Carter, can you speak to what assurances you received today from President Ghani and from Chief Executive Abdullah that they can actually bridge their differences, which have been going on now for about since 2014, and therefore create a stable government that can defeat the Taliban?
Thank you.
SEC. CARTER: Well, the second part is easy. We sat in the same room in Warsaw, President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah, with all of the leaders of NATO three days ago. I sat today with the two of them, and our conversation was one conversation with a common vision of Afghanistan's future and a common determination by the two of them to pursue that vision.
So, the three of us, and the three leaders, that is President Obama and the two of them in Warsaw, were of one mind about how to pursue the mission here in Afghanistan. And I just commend both of them for the preserving the strength of the national unity government. That's critical to Afghanistan's future. There's no question about it.
And they have kept that unity together. And so I -- I think they have the admiration of both not only the United States, but also everybody around that table in Warsaw, as well as the support for the national unity government here. So that's easy for us.
PRES. GHANI: Thank you for the question.
We have faced three transitions simultaneously. In 2014, when I was honored to serve this nation, we oversaw the departure of over 100,000 NATO-ISAF troops, ended the combat mission of ISAF for good.
And I can assure the parents of those individuals who served here, who were in harm's way, that never again will they be in combat situations.
Any other country men that face that transition would have now been on its knees. We're standing tall. And this has taken unity. I pay tribute to our security sector leaders and to our national security decision-making pattern.
All decisions have been made by National Security Council. We have created an institutional basis for decision-making on security that is efficient, effective and rapid. And compared to what we inherited, please do a comparison. And also compare us with other countries, because there has to be when -- (inaudible) -- judgments are made, they have to be grounded in comparison and understanding.
Second, we faced an economic transition. NATO-ISAF was just not a military force. It was the greatest economic spender in this country. We faced an economic recession bordering on a depression and still increased revenue 22 percent. Does that speak for differences of opinion or for focus? We increased -- not only we met our contributions to our forces, we increased them. And now we're generating dynamic -- dynamism in the economy.
Third transition was political. For over 200 years, Afghanistan's politics had been a zero-sum game. The winner takes all. We've overcome this difference. And if you want to see how government's function, please read Mr. Powell's memoirs about relations between Mr. Blair and Mr. Gordon Brown. All decision-makings require discussion, debate and understanding, but we have not failed to make the right decisions.
And our greatest transition is the fourth one. It's the transition of the culture of the states. We inherited corruption as an entrenched system. And what we are doing systematically and through a rule of law approach is to make sure we end impunity. The formation of the counter-corruption center is a major step, and in the next months between now and Brussels, and after that I hope you will judge us by the actions we take.
And where does the support come from? Support comes from the ordinary Afghans. Ordinary Afghans are extraordinary, and I want to pay tribute to them. We have taken 40 years of conflict imposed upon us. Daily, we're struggling with want, with impositions, with terrorism. And yet our resilience is second to none.
I think that people, this great people wants a government that befits their great aspirations, and we are determined in what we are doing concretely is benchmarking. What we have proposed to the international community is the model that we experimented with the United States, the new economic framework. We don't ask for money. We want support in return for results. And results will be specific, time-bound. And when they are delivered, support will be forthcoming.
STAFF: (inaudible) -- BBC Afghanistan.
Q: Thank you. My first question goes to Mr. Carter.
The United States had targeted the Taliban leader Mullah Mansour deep inside Pakistan territory and beyond the tribal areas. I'm wondering to know whether it was only one attack, and are you going to continue targeting insurgent leaders in those areas far from tribals again and again?
Q (translated): My question to his excellency President Ghani is you have mentioned that in this unannounced war against Pakistan, we are in this unannounced war against Pakistan, the problems are increasing every day with Pakistan- we are seeing that the defenses are increasing- I’d like to know- to solve these problems- and the fact that Pakistan- to listen to what you are asking for- is it something that the U.S. could have done and have not done? Thank you.
PRES. GHANI: Secretary Carter?
SEC. CARTER: Sure. I'll start off, and actually if you don't mind, I'll comment on the second part of your question as well, which is Pakistan.
Pakistan is a country that the United States has a strong relationship with, a long historical relationship with. So we work with them in many fields, including in the security field. We believe that the greatest threat to Pakistan's security is terrorism. It's not its neighbors. It's terrorism.
And therefore, we work with Pakistan wherever we can together against terrorism of all kinds, and any terrorism that emanates from Pakistani territory and of course, any terrorism that would affect Pakistan itself, as it does. And as I said, is in our judgment the most serious security danger that the state of Pakistan faces.
We do that with also obviously with Afghanistan. We have a strong partnership there. We -- we work with them as they work together across the border in this mission. And on the issue of -- of terrorist leadership, the United States will continue to target and strike terrorist leaders everywhere in the world where they might threaten Americans or our interests and our friends. We'll continue to do that as we have demonstrated that we do do.
PRES. GHANI (translated): Thank you. Our relations have not deteriorated. Our relations have rather become brighter- clearer. Who can differentiate? What we are talking about, first we have problems with the definition. When I went to Pakistan, I clearly announced that it was an unannounced war. And, this- they did not ask about that framework, and second thing, I clearly said that government-to-government, we want good relations. Quadrilateral dialogue was a very good opportunity for this problem to be defined, and for those who want peace and for those who want war, need to be differentiated based on their own decision. And a clear commitment signed by the government of Pakistan it is for those that do not want peace and for those who will come to terrorism and war, we’ll take measure as a government against them. It cannot be more clear than this. And the result of the quadrilateral dialogues and our strategic relations aims today that Pakistan is facing a fundamental decision. And I hope they will take the proper decision.
What’s the proper decision? Terrorism doesn’t have a good and bad reason. Terrorism is terrorism. Governments are the means for peace, stability and public welfare. Relations between the governments are based on the international laws. Because other than that, the whole regional system and international system will be endangered. I mean, more than this clarity cannot be developed.
And from our partners, the United States of America, I would like to thank for all the required measures been taken, of course. They understanding this, that the United States of America wants all the governments, all the region, live in peace and be in one, unified front against the terrorism and define this problem. Terrorism is not only endangering Afghanistan or Pakistan, (inaudible) the holy site- Mecca- the holy, sacred sites are being attacked now. So the whole of Islam, the region, the whole world, have joined interests. Our relations are based on our joint interests and are based on our joint vision and hope that Pakistan will take the appropriate decisions with this clarity. When on smaller matters, we are not talking about the smaller matters. On the bigger matters, which is the regional welfare, the global welfare and the welfare of the world of Islam based on I hope that you will consider this a constructive discussion.
STAFF: Our final question comes from the Washington Post.
Q: Gentlemen, good afternoon. I'm Dan Lamothe with the Washington Post.
President Ghani, thank you very much for having us in your country.
My question for you is related to particularly -- to particularly these new strikes on the Taliban. Do you think that could potentially bring the Taliban to any kind of peace talk? Or is that even feasible, considering the fracturing of the Taliban since the death of Mullah Mansour?
Secretary Carter, following all of these meetings today and the assessments you've received, can you give us additional detail on some specifics and specific examples of how these new strikes carried out with these new authorities have worked?
Thank you.
SEC. CARTER: Well, I'll go first, if Dan, on the second question, I'm really going to let you talk to Mick about that. And he can give you the specifics of it. I'll just go back to what I said previously, which is that it makes a lot more sense for our commanders, working with their Afghan counterparts, to look at the battlefield, look at what they know the enemy's battle plan, and how the enemy is moving, and to anticipate their movements. That makes for a much more efficient use and effective use of the forces we have here, as well as the Afghan forces.
And previously, General Nicholson's authorities were that when or if Afghan security forces found themselves in a difficult situation, then they could call their American counterparts and their American counterparts could come and go shoulder to shoulder with them and help.
It obviously, to me, makes a lot more sense to be doing it the way we're doing it now. It's a lot more effective use of our forces. And for specific tactical examples, I really want to let you talk to General Nicholson and I'll make him available to you for that purpose.
But that's the general strategic idea and I think it's a very logical change. I'm grateful that the president made that change. I'm grateful to General Nicholson for calling it to our attention that this was an opportunity we hadn't seized yet and now we're seizing it.
PRES. GHANI: Well, it's a pleasure to welcome you to Afghanistan. Please come again and we have a wonderful free media- will enjoy aspect of questioning, every policy and we like so you are very welcome and no international journalist will ever be put on a blacklist so do come again. Let me first bring context to you.
SEC. CARTER: He's doing great so far.
PRES. GHANI: Yes, exactly.
SEC. CARTER: He should really just quit now.
PRES. GHANI: Three phases of vicious attacks have been launched on us this year. Mosques have been attacked, our students -- security students in their classrooms have been butchered, our graduates of police academy on their way have been butchered. Our, in this, in the wake of (inaudible) clear commitments in the quadrilateral process. Sixteen benchmarks, none observed. What's been the strategic goal?
One, to bring down the government. Two, minimally to divide Afghanistan into two political geographies.
They are not going to achieve these goals. When we are backed, we are challenged, we need to respond to illegitimate force with legitimate force. The use of force by us and by our strategic partner, Unites States, is legitimate use of force. And we welcome this, we have agreed upon it, peace will come but we need to win the battle of confidence and the belief that they cannot bring us down.
There was uncertainty. Uncertainty is a great catalyst to terror and to violence because they taunt. While Afghanistan was being used as a battlefield, the audience was Europe and the United States and our other partners. Now, with the very clear message of Warsaw -- Warsaw's message is not just trust in our security forces it's also a key message to armed opponents that the only way for engagement is a peace process where, if there are grievances, we are the first to acknowledge the shortcomings -- corruption is as strong a threat as is terrorism.
So we will address any legitimate grievance of our citizens but the process is the negotiating table, not the battlefield. And as long as the interests of the Afghan children, Afghan women, elders any Afghan citizen is being threatened, by law, by national law and by every human, history, historical precedent, we are entitled to use force and we are determined to do that.
Thank you.
STAFF: This concludes our presser for the day.
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