Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says the British soldiers who died fighting in Afghanistan had helped bring "freedom" to the country.
Ghani said in Kabul on March 13 that the 453 British troops who were killed in Afghanistan made the "ultimate sacrifice to enable us to live in freedom, in hope for peace, prosperity, and dignity."
Ghani's comments came ahead of ceremonies to be held in Kabul and London to commemorate the end of British involvement in the war in Afghanistan.
Ghani also praised Britain's long-term commitment to a British-run officer training academy outside of Kabul.
His comments contrast with his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, who toward the end of his term in office complained that the presence of British forces in Helmand Province had worsened the situation there.
Briish forces were part of a U.S.-led coalition that invaded Afghanistan in 2001. The last British combat forces left in October ahead of the end of the NATO-led military campaign in December.