KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday warned against negligence in resolving problems of families of fallen security personnel, saying he would himself monitor the process each month.
The president issued the warning while addressing a gathering marking the international women’s day at the Presidential Palace before noon, a statement from the palace said.
The day, which falls on March 8, was officially celebrated countrywide a day earlier.
The statement said First Lady Rula Ghani was present on the occasion. At the start, Eng. Zakia Wardak congratulated the Afghan women on the occasion of the international women’s day and called today’s gathering a unique one.
She said the Afghan women suffered the most in the ongoing conflict as they lost their solider sons in the line of duty. She thanked the president for listening to the problems and suggestions of the bereaved mothers at today’s gathering.
Advisor to the president, Malalai Shinwari, named a woman Zil Hajja who lost her three police sons to the insurgency in southern Helmand.
Zil Hajja, who was present at the gathering, said her sons had been martyred by the enemies of Afghanistan. She said her fourth son who was injured in the line of duty was still in the battlefield.
The grief-stricken but undeterred mother said she was proud of her sons who sacrificed their lives in the defence of the motherland. She urged the president to resolve problems of the widows of the martyrs and their children.
After listening this, the president said: “This day belongs to those women whose voices are not heard or ignored, but I as an elected servant will listen to you and you take measures to resolve your problems.”
He praised the patriotism and bravery of Zil Hajja and said it was the responsibility of all to respect the mother and resolve her issues.
The president said he had directed the departments concerned to take urgent measures for assessing problems of the fallen soldiers’ families.(Pajhwok)