Afghanistan | National Day

Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison and Ambassador Jawad

John Mark Lancaster, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, and Ambassador Jawad

BBC Pashto and Dari journalists Seema Shadan and Meena Baktash with Mrs Jawad (centre)

Afghans training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst join Ambassador Jawad and Afghan Defence Attaché Haroon Naderi

Ambassador Jawad, former HMA to Kabul Richard Stagg and Dominic Jermey, current HMA to Afghanistan, with MOD colleagues

Ambassador Jawad and Shamim Jawad, General Sir Nick Carter and Afghan Defence Attache, Haroon Naderi

Slovak Ambassador L’ubomír Rehák with Ambassador Jawad and his wife Shamim

Ambassador Jawad and his wife Shamim welcome Karen Pierce, Britain’s recently appointed Ambassador to the UN

Owen Jenkins, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, addresses guests

Guests tuck into delicious Afghan cuisine

John Bailey and Veronica Doubleday perform at Armed Forces Day

Hospitality for heroes
The Ambassador of Afghanistan, Said Jawad, used his first national day celebrations
n London to pay tribute to the enormous sacrifice of British soldiers serving in his country. “Those who serve in Afghanistan are heroes and they are there to make the region and the world a safer place,” he told guests. “I want to convey the gratitude of the Afghan government and people to them. My job as ambassador is easier because Afghanistan and the UK share common values of democracy and pluralism.” To celebrate the UKAfghan military partnership the embassy also held an evening reception for the leadership of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces attended by John Mark Lancaster,
Minister of State for the Armed Forces, generals, marshals of the air force, Afghan officers and cadets of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS