A biography for Ashraf Ghanihasn’t been written yet.
“I have a strange - because there's no other way probably of describing it - uh, temper. I'm a very difficult taskmaster. I don't wait.”
“You cannot have good terrorists and bad terrorists.”
“If I get elected, my government will promote a culture of acceptance and non-violence in the country.”
“Deadlines concentrate the mind. But deadlines should not be dogmas.”
“President Obama called me on his last day in office and said the only person who never asked him for anything was me.”
“Peace cannot come without the government of Afghanistan speaking directly to the Taliban or the Taliban talking directly to us.”
“Middle Eastern Muslim countries are not only important for Afghanistan due to common culture and faith, but also because of economic benefits.”
“You know, America has profoundly shaped me, and I have two American children and unbelievably rich friendships so it will always be a source of joy and good memories.”
“This hand is free of blood, and this hand is free from the stain of corruption.”
“If we looked in the world of 1945 and looked at the map of capitalist economies and democratic polities, they were the rare exception, not the norm.”
“In 2001, we didn't have an army; we had remnants of a dissolved army that had no hope. Our generals had literally become busboys.”
“If election is your goal, you're never going to engage in reform. Reform has to be your goal. Election is the means. You run for office in order to do something, not in order to perpetuate yourself.”
“By terrorising the people, the Taliban have sown deep doubts about the government.”
“I went to Pakistan; I engaged in peace. If a hand extended is not shaken, what are you supposed to do?”
“President Trump is engaging and if you get your points across then he asks you questions.”
“No power in the country can dissolve the government.”
“Thank God there has been no recurrence of 9/11. It is not because of luck - it is because of mass sacrifice and effort.”
“Afghanistan fortunately is one of the richest countries in terms of water, mineral resources, location and human capital.”
“We are not a battlefield and we will not allow anyone to use our territory against any of our neighbour, but we will not allow our neighbours to use our territory this way either.”
“My father's mother really had a profound influence on me. She literally began her day with an hour of reading. But the most fundamental impact was education.”