At an event with senior members of the Junbish-i-Milli Party in the Presidential Palace on Saturday, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the elected president of Afghanistan, said peace and stability, reducing poverty and attracting investment were among the most pressing needs facing the country and that they will be priorities for his administration.
“Afghanistan must become the center of national and international investment,” Ghani said. "These businessmen of ours, who have shaken hands, are committed to invest in this country."
Ghani said good governance and cracking down on corruption would be an important task for his government. Though he did not specify his plans to address the country’s rampant graft.
“Let’s not discuss the past, but starting the day when we arrive, those involved in corruption will face the consequences,” Ghani added.
At the same event, Ghani’s First Vice President, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, spoke of efforts to end hostilities with the Taliban, and said he would be willing to speak with the militants.
“It is important to continue the talks with the Taliban,” Dostum said. "If Dr. Ghani allows me, I am ready to directly contact Taliban and ask what they want? Who are they killing? If war was the solution, all the issues would have been resolved in the past 40 years.”
Ghani and Dostum will take their oaths of office at an inaugural ceremony on Monday, which will see Hamid Karzai transfer power democratically after a decade in presidency.