The president of Afghanistan pays tribute to the British soldiers who died fighting in the country, ahead of services to mark the end of the UK's involvement in the war.
Ashraf Ghani's words "contrast" with those of his predecessor, the BBC's David Loyn said
The Afghan president has paid tribute to UK soldiers who died fighting in the country, ahead of services to mark the end of British involvement in the war.
Ashraf Ghani said the 453 UK troops had "paid the ultimate sacrifice to enable us to live in freedom, in hope for peace, prosperity and dignity".
The Queen and many veterans will attend a service at St Paul's Cathedral later to commemorate the end of the war.
A simultaneous service will be held in Afghanistan for troops still there.
The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron are all expected to attend the St Paul's ceremony, which will be followed by a procession through London.
'Great honour'
Anne Linley's son, Staff Sgt Brett Linley, was 29 when he was killed as he worked to clear improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan in 2010.
He defused more than 100 bombs and posthumously received the George Medal for "great bravery".
Mrs Linley said it would be a "great honour" to be at St Paul's along with members of the Royal Family and other soldiers' parents.
"I'm looking forward to it but dreading it at the same time because you don't know what kind of emotions it will bring forward," she said.
Speaking about her son, she said: "I miss him all day long... we carry him in our hearts and always will."
British troops left Camp Bastion in October then many flew home from Kandahar a month later
UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which invaded Afghanistan and toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US.
A new interim government was set up in December 2001 - but the Taliban kept fighting and has killed thousands of foreign and Afghan government troops over the years since the invasion.
The Taliban remains a powerful force in the country, and declared the "defeat" of the US and its allies when Nato formally ended its combat mission in December.
At the peak of the campaign the UK military, which faced regular Taliban attacks, had 9,500 troops and 137 bases in Helmand Province
Karzai 'clash'The last British combat troops left in October last year, though some still remain in training, advisory and support roles.
As well as paying tribute to Britain's war dead, President Ghani spoke of the enduring legacy of the UK's commitment at the British-run officer training academy near Kabul.
BBC Afghanistan correspondent David Loyn said: "President Ghani's tribute contrasts strongly with complaints by his predecessor President Karzai, who said that the British presence had made things worse in Helmand and frequently clashed with British diplomats and soldiers about their role.
"The new government in Afghanistan sees things very differently."
[h=1]In pictures: UK troops in Afghanistan 2001-2014[/h]UK troops have handed over Camp Bastion in Afghanistan to local security forces.
British military involvement in Afghanistan began in October 2001 in the wake of the 11 September terror attacks in the US. The UK participated in US-led airstrikes against al-Qaeda and the Taliban before becoming part of Nato operations.
The first UK troops were deployed in November 2001 when 40 Commando Royal Marines helped secure Bagram airfield near Kabul. Marines later patrolled Afghanistan's capital city.
In May 2002 Royal Marines were sent to mountain regions to help search for Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives. Between 2002 and 2006 the UK deployed armed forces and civilian personnel to Afghanistan to help in its reconstruction. Military operations were conducted under the name Operation Herrick.
The main British base, Camp Bastion, was constructed in 2006 in a desert area of Helmand province by 39 Engineer Regiment. The size of Reading, at one point it was home to almost 30,000 personnel from a number of coalition nations including the UK, US, Afghanistan and Denmark.
The UK assumed command of Nato's International Security Assistance Force for a year in May 2006. At the height of operations in 2009, UK forces numbered 9,500 personnel, generally serving six-month tours of duty.
A total of 453 members of the Army, RAF, Royal Marines and special forces have lost their lives in the conflict. Casualties increased sharply in 2006 after Nato took over leadership of operations in the Taliban stronghold in the south. About half of all British deaths were caused by explosions, many while personnel were out on patrol.
The greatest loss of life in a single incident took place in September 2006, when 14 servicemen died when their RAF Nimrod spy plane exploded in mid air. An inquiry found the blast was due to a malfunction. The highest annual number of fatalities took place in 2009, when there were 107 deaths.
In 2008, Prince Harry became the first member of the Royal Family to serve in a conflict zone since the Falklands War. His deployment at an Army operating base ended after three months when foreign media broke a news blackout. In 2012, he returned for a four-month tour of duty as an Apache attack helicopter pilot.
UK operations in Afghanistan have taken place over the tenure of three prime ministers - David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair all visited troops at Camp Bastion.
Camp Bastion has its own water bottling plant, hospital, police force, churches and leisure facilities. Gunners from the British Army's 32 Regiment Royal Artillery celebrated a Team GB victory during the London Olympics in 2012.
The withdrawal of international forces was announced by Afghanistan in 2010. The British drawdown formally began in April this year, when the UK task force in Helmand was disbanded. The last UK patrol base, Sterga 2, was closed by soldiers from 4 Scots on 10 May 2014.
The UK base at Camp Bastion and the adjoining US base, Camp Leatherneck, were both handed over to Afghan forces at a ceremony on 26 October2014
A total of 453 British troops died during the UK's conflict operations in Afghanistan. Speaking as those operations formally ended, UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said UK troops would not return to fight in Afghanistan "under any circumstances".
[h=1]UK military deaths in Afghanistan[/h]The UK's military role in Afghanistan since 2001 has not been without its human toll. Members of the Army, RAF, Royal Marines and special forces have lost their lives in the fight against the Taliban. Here, the BBC News website offers a look at who they were.
[h=1]The Royals honour Britain's Afghan war heroes: Kate and William lead tributes to the 453 men and women who died fighting the Taliban at St Paul's memorial service[/h]
Commemoration held to mark the end of 13 year long combat operations in Afghanistan at St Paul's Cathedral today
It was attended by members of the Royal Family including Prince Harry who served in two tours during the conflict
Service was led by the Dean of St Paul's with an address given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
Prayers were given by veterans and family members of those who died as well as a reading by David Cameron
The Queen and the Prime Minister are leading the nation in honouring the servicemen and women who fought and died during the conflict in Afghanistan as part of a commemoration service today. It marks the end of the 13-year combat operations in the country with the families of some of the 453 British soldiers killed and veterans are taking part in the ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Prince Harry, who served two tours during the conflict, arrived at the service along with his brother Prince William, his heavily-pregnant wife Kate, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
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The Queen leaves St Paul's Cathedral with Prince Philip and the Lord Mayor of London following a service to commemorate those that fought in the Afghanistan war
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The senior Royal family members gather at the entrance of St Paul's ahead of the commemoration service earlier today
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The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in their seats during the service held in tribute for those who fought during the war in Afghanistan
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The Duchess of Cambridge sits beside Prince Harry and Prince Andrew during the service, which began at 11am this morning
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Service personnel and veterans among the congregation at today's service at St Paul's Cathedral in remembrance of fellow soliders who died
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Prince William and Kate walk up the steps of St Paul's closely followed by Harry (left) while Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall shakes hands with the Lord Mayor of London (right)
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The Queen is given a posy from Sophie Thorneloe and sister Hannah, whose father Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe was killed in battle
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A flypast of aircraft used in the campaign, including a Sea King (front), two Chinooks (second) and two Apaches (third) helicopters and Hercules and Tornado airplanes goes overhead
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Kate touches her heart as she watches military personnel in a parade after the service (left) and while helicopters fly overhead (right)
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Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William watch the parade pass from St Paul's to Guildhall as a flypass goes overhead
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A Royal Air Force Chinook flies over London, followed by an Apache as part of a flypast following this morning's service at St Paul's Cathedral
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave St Paul's Cathedral this morning following the service of remembrance and make their way to watch the parade of servicemen and women
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The Duchess of Cambridge (left) is seen grabbing her bump as the baby, which is due next month, kicks (right) making her smile
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Duke of Cambridge removes his hat as he makes his way inside for the service, which will be led by his grandmother the Queen
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Servicemen stand on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral as family members and senior politicians arrive for the commemoration service
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Family members are seen arriving at St Paul's to pay tribute to their loved ones who were killed in the 13-year conflict
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Grieving family members make their way to the commemoration service, which is being led by the Queen and David Cameron
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Marching into the cathedral for the service are members of the Armed Forces, who gather to remember those that lost their lives in battle
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A guest with prosthetic legs, who formerly fought in the conflict in Afghanistan, arriving at St Paul's Cathedral for the service earlier today
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Decorated military personnel arrive at St Paul's Cathedral ahead of the ceremony. They then marched in a parade with other service people
Prince Harry, who served in two tours of Afghanistan, stands with his sister-in-law Kate and brother Prince William during the commemoration
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The Duchess of Cambridge looks at her husband Prince William during the service. She is due to have their second child next month
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Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, during the service where they paid their respects to the servicemen and women that died
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The senior members of the Royal family leave the service, led out by Queen and Prince Philip (front) followed by the Prince of Wales
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Prince Harry kisses his father Prince Charles on the cheek as he greets him and his brother Prince William, his wife Kate and Camilla
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Prince Charles, dressed in full regalia, leaves the cathedral with his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, daughter-in-law Kate and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall
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Princess Anne (left) and her husband Tim Laurence (right) stand at the Great West Door of the cathedral with a member of the clergy
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The Queen led the nation in the honours at the service, where she shook hands with servicemen and women that fought in the war, right, she meets retired soldier Josh Campbell, former pioneer from the Royal Logistics Corps who lost both legs in an IED strike in Afghanis
Prince William, his brother Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, and the Duchess of Cambridge arriving at St Paul's this morning
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The Queen arrives at St Paul's Cathedral with Prince Philip for the commemoration service to remember those killed in the Afghanistan conflict
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Prince William and his heavily-pregnant wife Kate arrive at the cathedral ahead of the service which started at 11am this morning
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Two servicemen help and injured veteran, proudly sporting a medal, as he made his way into the ceremony at St Paul's this morning
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Charlton Taylor's mother, Sonia Fleming, holds his hand as they make their way into the service. He is the youngest child of Lance Corporal Michael Taylor, who died during an exchange of fire with insurgent forces in the Sangin district of Helmand province, and had three sons
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Charlton Taylor (left) whose father Lance Corporal Michael Taylor (right), a Royal Marine of 40 Commando, died in June 2010 at the age of 30
Ashraf Ghani's words "contrast" with those of his predecessor, the BBC's David Loyn said
British troops left Camp Bastion in October then many flew home from Kandahar a month later
