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| Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai (R, front) speaks during a joint press conference with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (L, front) in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, 2014. The British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Afghan capital of Kabul on Friday to pay an unannounced visit and meet the new Afghan leaders, sources said. (Xinhua/STR) |
KABUL, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- The British Prime Minister David Cameron is the first foreign leader visiting Afghanistan and called on the newly elected president Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Friday.
During the blitz visit to Afghanistan's capital Kabul, Cameron held meeting with president Ahmadzai and assured his government's support to Afghanistan, a step that was welcomed by the Afghan president, at a joint press conference broadcast live by national television.
Cameron said British troops won't return to Afghanistan after departing for home.
Nevertheless, he said, Britain would continue to support Afghanistan beyond 2014 pullout of the NATO-led forces from the strife-torn country when the alliance combat mission is over at the end of year.
He also said 74 British tutors would remain in Afghanistan to help train Afghans in the Afghan military academy.
After meeting with Ahmadzai, both the leaders held press conference at Afghan Presidential Palace.
Cameron told the press conference that Britain would continue to provide 178 million British pounds to Afghanistan annually until 2017.
Cameron said Britain had paid "high price" for its military engagement in Afghanistan over the past 13 years.
More than 450 service members have reportedly died in the course of operations in the conflict-ridden Afghanistan since late 2001.
Addressing the joint press conference, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai vowed to fight corruption and bring reforms to ensure good governance in the country.
"We are committed to fight corruption and bring reforms to ensure good governance," Ahmadzai said at the joint press conference.
Ahmadzai who assumed office last Monday has already instructed the concerned authorities to fight against corruption, saying he would begin reforms from the Presidential Palace, a step has been widely welcomed by Afghans.
In a major step to fight corruption, the president ordered the Attorney General Office to resume investigation of the Kabul Bank scandal case and bring to justice all those responsible for bringing at the verge of collapse of first private bank in the war- damaged country in 2010.
The Afghan president also thanked the Britain and all countries have supported Afghanistan over the past 13 years and urged the continued support of the international community with the militancy-plagued nation.
