UN General Assembly
2012

higher education. Our achievements have not come about easily, though. The aspirations of the Afghan people for security and peace have yet to be realized. As the global fight against terrorism continues unabated, the Afghan people continue to pay a bigger price than any other nation, in both life and treasure. Terrorism is not rooted in Afghan villages and towns; it never was. Its sources and support networks all exist beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Thus while the security of the international community is being protected from the threat of terrorism, the people of Afghanistan must no longer be made to pay the price and endure the brunt of the war. It is in deference to the immense sacrifices of the Afghan people, and to the precious lives lost from the international community, that the campaign against terrorism must be taken to the sources of terrorism and be results-oriented. Today in Afghanistan, we are pursuing the cause of peace and an end to violence as a matter of great urgency. Since peace is the greatest desire of the Afghan people,