Afghan president toughens stance, vows to root out terrorists

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has toughens stance in the war on militants and vowed to root out Taliban and like-minded groups fighting in the war-plagued country.

"Since the Taliban and Haqqani network in harmony with other terrorist groups are fighting in Afghanistan to ensure each other's interests, therefore, it is our obligation to stand against them," president said in his speech at the joint session of Afghan parliament here on Monday.

He made the speech in parliament amid ongoing Taliban-led bloody insurgency and in the wake of the deadly attack in Kabul on April 19, which killed 64 people and injured 347 others, some in critical condition.

Taliban outfit claimed the responsibility and vowed to continue the war against government.

However, the president categorically clarified that his government's door is open for peace talks with those Taliban who renounce violence, severe ties with terrorists and accept Afghanistan's constitution.

The hardliner Taliban group has frequently rebuffed government offers for talks, stating no talks would be held for peace in the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Vowing to mount military pressure on Taliban, the president promised that the militants would be defeated in the battleground and they would finally beg for peace, saying Haqqani network, al-Qaida and Islamic State groups would be diminished.

Government has no mercy to the terrorists languishing in jails and court's ruling would be implemented even if it is capital punishment, president told lawmakers at the joint parliament session.

Giving definition to friends and foes, the president said that the "friends of Afghanistan are all those citizens including the political oppositions who defend the country's national interests" and foes of Afghanistan are "al-Qaida, Islamic State, foreign mercenaries and parts of Taliban".

There is no good and bad among terrorists, the Afghan leader said, adding terrorist is terrorist.

President Ghani also vowed to fight corruption tooth and nail and bringing reforms to ensure good governance. Enditem