9/11 anniversary: Gen Allen renews resolve against Taliban
General Allen says people of Afghanistan were willing to sacrifice their lives for values of freedom.
KABUL:
General John R Allen, commander of the International Security Force (ISAF) has renewed his resolve to put an end to global terrorism.
He was speaking at the 11th Anniversary ceremony of September 11, 2011. That fateful morning, terrorist attacks on the United States (US) soil had caused the deaths of nearly 3000 people.
Speaking to troops in Kabul, Allen said it was his fourth commemoration of the attacks while in combat. The upper echelons of the US army, civilians, and representatives of the US-led coalition were present in the audience.
The General said that terrorism has touched and will continue to touch all cities globally unless stopped, reaffirming that US efforts in this global struggle will not go in vain. He vowed to defend values of freedom to make the world a safer place to live in.
Paying tribute to American soldiers who had lost their lives during combat over the past 11 years, he said that the people of Afghanistan were also willing to sacrifice their lives for values of freedom, and were persistently struggling for this global cause.
The Isaf commander in Afghanistan narrated an incident where he had offered ‘zakat’ to a man who had lost three sons in the struggle against Taliban militants.
“I was struck by his courage and determination when he said – without hesitation – he would gladly send his remaining sons to war if it meant a better, a safer, and a liberated Afghanistan – the same Afghanistan we strive to support now in the period of Transition and soon in the Decade of Transformation,” Allen recounted.
The Isaf commander said that as much as 76 per cent of Afghanistan was being handed over to Afghanistan’s local security forces and that all operations were now Afghan-led. He added that little girls now boldly walked to school and Afghanistan was striving to embrace the Rule of Law, to rid itself of blatant corruption in the society. He further added that many insurgents were talking about peace and stability now.
Allen thanked the coalition for their continued support and resilience, pointing out that this coalition was the largest in history as it comprised of 50 nations.
General John R Allen, commander of the International Security Force (ISAF) has renewed his resolve to put an end to global terrorism.
He was speaking at the 11th Anniversary ceremony of September 11, 2011. That fateful morning, terrorist attacks on the United States (US) soil had caused the deaths of nearly 3000 people.
Speaking to troops in Kabul, Allen said it was his fourth commemoration of the attacks while in combat. The upper echelons of the US army, civilians, and representatives of the US-led coalition were present in the audience.
The General said that terrorism has touched and will continue to touch all cities globally unless stopped, reaffirming that US efforts in this global struggle will not go in vain. He vowed to defend values of freedom to make the world a safer place to live in.
Paying tribute to American soldiers who had lost their lives during combat over the past 11 years, he said that the people of Afghanistan were also willing to sacrifice their lives for values of freedom, and were persistently struggling for this global cause.
The Isaf commander in Afghanistan narrated an incident where he had offered ‘zakat’ to a man who had lost three sons in the struggle against Taliban militants.
“I was struck by his courage and determination when he said – without hesitation – he would gladly send his remaining sons to war if it meant a better, a safer, and a liberated Afghanistan – the same Afghanistan we strive to support now in the period of Transition and soon in the Decade of Transformation,” Allen recounted.
The Isaf commander said that as much as 76 per cent of Afghanistan was being handed over to Afghanistan’s local security forces and that all operations were now Afghan-led. He added that little girls now boldly walked to school and Afghanistan was striving to embrace the Rule of Law, to rid itself of blatant corruption in the society. He further added that many insurgents were talking about peace and stability now.
Allen thanked the coalition for their continued support and resilience, pointing out that this coalition was the largest in history as it comprised of 50 nations.