KABUL, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday vowed to prevent instability in his war-battered country.

The president made the remarks in a televised address, his first public remarks after keeping largely silent on the Taliban taking over 18 of the nation’s 34 provinces in eight days.

Ghani’s pre-recorded statement said remobilizing the Afghan National Security Forces was a “top priority” and he would find ways to help the thousands of people displaced by fighting across the country.

“We have held extensive consultations with everyone within the government and international partners… Consultations are ongoing and the results will be shared soon,” the president said on Saturday.

Until Saturday’s short address, Ghani and his government had been largely silent as more and more of the nation’s provinces, including Kandahar and Herat – the nation’s second and third-largest cities, respectively – fell to the Taliban.

Addressing the Afghan public, Ghani said: “I understand that you are worried about your future, I assure you as your president that I will concentrate on preventing expansion of instability, violence and displacement of my people.”