Afghan President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani met with Mrs. Maris Pine, Minister of Defense of Australia on 16 February 2018 in Kabul.

During the meeting, which was attended by Undersecretary General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali, Cheif of Army, both sides discussed the expansion of cooperation between the two countries, the fight against terrorism and the training of Afghan security and defense forces.

Mrs. Payne expressed her condolescence for the recent terrorist attacks to the Afghan people. 

Mrs. Payne said that Australia is ready to work with Afghan government in the field of higher education, especially in the military sector.

The Australian Defense Minister noted that we support the position and strategy of the Afghan government in the areas of peace and the fight against terrorism and the expansion of regional cooperation. "Our cooperation with the government and the people of Afghanistan continues", she said.

President Ghani thanked Australia's cooperation in civilian and military affairs of Afghanistan.