Abdul Samad Afghan, Consul-General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has commended the role played by the United Arab Emirates in supporting his country since the era of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and as now followed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The remarks were made at the ceremony held by the Consulate-General of Afghanistan in Dubai on the occasion of the 98th Independence Day of his country. It was attended by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Abdul Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, Director of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Dubai, a number of Arab and foreign Consuls-General in Dubai, and members of the Afghan community in the country.

During the ceremony, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani made a telephone call to the event, during which he stressed the depth of brotherly relations between the UAE and Afghanistan and their leaders, praising the UAE's sacrifices in Afghanistan.

In a speech, the Afghan Consul-General said that the martyrdom of six Emiratis during the opening of one of UAE charitable project in Kandahar highlighted the humanitarian values instilled in the UAE people and its government, stressing that the relations between the UAE and Afghanistan will remain solid and strong.

The attendees observed a moment of silence for the UAE's martyrs, and a shield was presented to the family of martyr Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Kaabi from the Presidential Palace of Afghanistan.