KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani for the first time announced at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that "terrorist groups" are made up of Taliban, criminals and foreign terrorists – unlike his previous statements where he often referred to the Taliban as either brothers or political opposition.

"Preliminary assessments by intelligence agencies show that terrorist groups in Afghanistan are criminal groups, Taliban and foreign terrorists who commit unforgivable crimes on behalf of outsiders and drug smugglers," said Ghani, who has made a U-turn on his public comments regarding the Taliban and also apparently changed his policy towards Pakistan after a wave of terrorist attacks in Kabul over the past few months.

According to Ghani, militants that launched attacks in Faryab, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Badakhshan, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces aimed to accomplish the goals of outsiders.

In addition, the Army's Deputy Chief of Army Gen. Murad Ali Murad and the acting governor of Kunduz Hamdullah Danishi briefed the meeting via video teleconference about the recent security developments in Kunduz city – which recently fell to the Taliban following a massive and well-planed attack.

Murad assured the meeting, chaired by Ghani, that security forces had not violated human rights laws.

According to Murad, security forces were putting all their efforts into protecting the lives and properties of civilians in the embattled city.

Referring to reports of crimes by the Taliban that include mass murder and looting in Kunduz, Ghani noted that the traitors were being financed by external elements behind the killings of Afghans and the looting of their properties.

Touching on the advances being made by the forces in Kunduz, Ghani praised the troops and said: "Our courageous and brave forces are moving forward towards protecting the lives of Afghans to ensure their freedom, independence and prosperity." (Tolonews)