By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani used the first day of Ramadan on Thursday to announce a special fund to support the families of killed Afghan soldiers.
Ghani said 90 million Afghanis ($15 million) have been earmarked as an initial fund to support the families and urged Afghans to contribute more as a show of solidarity with the armed forces.
“The war that has been imposed on us has distracted us from fighting the real enemies of this land that are poverty and disparity," Ghani said in his televised Ramadan message.
He also praised the Afghan security forces, who have taken on the responsibility of fighting the Taliban militancy after the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of 2014.
Ghani warned the Taliban to disarm or face government crackdown and criticized their refusal to end their activity during Ramadan.
“Those who replied to the calls for peace with war, they have ignored the sanctity of this holy month,” said Ghani.
