13:25
16.2.2014
Arsala: We will build an Afghanistan that we can be proud of.
13:26
16.2.2014
Ghani: I have an international stature. Transparency in our administration is the key to improve our global image.
13:30
16.2.2014
The debate has ended.
13:49
16.2.2014
Key Quotes:
Ghani:
"We need a government to be transparent and merit-based. Jihad is not the problem. The problem is the sectarian outlook of the country. This outlook divided a strong army and toppled a balanced administration of the country (eds: in place before Taliban came to power) and made Afghanistan vulnerable."
Ghani:
"Those who were involved in the war should be re-included in the mainstream because without this we cannot have durable peace. In our cabinet, the first priority is the national plan. The cabinet must ensure national unity, because without inclusion, without participation of youth, women, and without inclusion of other factions and layers of society, we cannot solve the problems of this country."
Arsala:
"The standards which I applied to the selection of my assistants were, first -- they should be clean; second -- experience; third -- they should not be involved in bloodshed and corruption. In the meantime, I wanted one of my vice presidential candidates to be a woman."
Arsala:
"Unfortunately, once jihad was over, some mujahedin leaders monopolized power for themselves and by doing so they have divided Afghanistan into different factions and groups. This sort of approach became the basis of many problems in the country. At the same time we should know that the mujahedin and their leaders were not alone in this -- there were foreign forces involved too. That’s why we could not enjoy the achievements of jihad. Nevertheless, now Afghanistan has an opportunity to move forward to peace and stability.”
Ghani:
"Today, [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama and all of our European partners have accepted the political solution to the Afghan conflict as a principle. The second dimension is regional, especially when it comes to Pakistan. The elected Pakistani Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif] prefers a political solution but the intelligence and military apparatus of Pakistan have not arrived at this conclusion yet. Therefore, we have a fundamental obstacle in the region. Third -- it's the domestic dimension that includes corruption and cruelty, which in turn have caused violence in the country."
Ghani:
"We need a government to be transparent and merit-based. Jihad is not the problem. The problem is the sectarian outlook of the country. This outlook divided a strong army and toppled a balanced administration of the country (eds: in place before Taliban came to power) and made Afghanistan vulnerable."
Ghani:
"Those who were involved in the war should be re-included in the mainstream because without this we cannot have durable peace. In our cabinet, the first priority is the national plan. The cabinet must ensure national unity, because without inclusion, without participation of youth, women, and without inclusion of other factions and layers of society, we cannot solve the problems of this country."
Arsala:
"The standards which I applied to the selection of my assistants were, first -- they should be clean; second -- experience; third -- they should not be involved in bloodshed and corruption. In the meantime, I wanted one of my vice presidential candidates to be a woman."
Arsala:
"Unfortunately, once jihad was over, some mujahedin leaders monopolized power for themselves and by doing so they have divided Afghanistan into different factions and groups. This sort of approach became the basis of many problems in the country. At the same time we should know that the mujahedin and their leaders were not alone in this -- there were foreign forces involved too. That’s why we could not enjoy the achievements of jihad. Nevertheless, now Afghanistan has an opportunity to move forward to peace and stability.”
Ghani:
"Today, [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama and all of our European partners have accepted the political solution to the Afghan conflict as a principle. The second dimension is regional, especially when it comes to Pakistan. The elected Pakistani Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif] prefers a political solution but the intelligence and military apparatus of Pakistan have not arrived at this conclusion yet. Therefore, we have a fundamental obstacle in the region. Third -- it's the domestic dimension that includes corruption and cruelty, which in turn have caused violence in the country."