Honoring the Jihad for Independence and Building a Peaceful Future

Speech at the Anniversary Ceremony of the Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Keypoints: 

• Commemoration of Liberation: Honoring freedom from Soviet occupation.
• Recognition of Sacrifice: Remembering bravery of mujahideen and civilians.
• National Unity: Promoting solidarity among all ethnic and regional groups.
• Preservation of Independence: Upholding Afghanistan’s sovereignty and self-rule.
• Rebuilding and Development: Restoring schools, infrastructure, and cities.
• Peace and Reconciliation: Encouraging dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
• Islamic Values and Governance: Upholding religion, law, and constitution.
• Responsibility of Citizens: Everyone contributing to nation-building efforts.
• Condemnation of Violence: Rejecting war and division as ways to achieve progress.
• Vision for the Future: Committing to a stable, prosperous, and peaceful Afghanistan.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Most esteemed Pir Sahib, Excellencies General Sahib Dostum, Danish Sahib, Dr. Sahib Abdullah, Ustad Khalili; esteemed Deputy Chairs of the Executive Directorate, Engineer Sahib and Haji Sahib; honorable members of the Cabinet, Ulema, Great Mujahideen, dear sisters, beloved compatriots, and distinguished foreign guests! Peace be upon you all, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.

Khosh Keldig! Welcome! Khosh Amadeid!

Allah تعالی in the 81st verse of Surah Al-Isra says: "And say, Truth has come, and falsehood has perished. Indeed, falsehood, by its nature, is bound to perish."

The Victory of Truth Over Falsehood

Esteemed compatriots! Today, we celebrate a day where we witnessed with our own eyes the divine promise of Truth’s victory over Falsehood. All of Afghanistan honors this blessed day, and every governor across our provinces—under the direction of the Government of National Unity—is commemorating this occasion. Congratulations to you all! I recall that day twenty-seven years ago, the 26th of Dalw, when our beloved Afghanistan was liberated from invaders and the blood of our martyrs bore fruit.

Afghanistan has always been the land of courage and gallantry; the guarding of dignity, honor, and religious sanctities is etched into the historical record of our people. In those days, the Red Army of the former Soviet Union was considered among the most powerful militaries in the world. Its lethal weaponry struck terror into the hearts of any who opposed it; a vast number of nations had surrendered to its undisputed power.

The Power of Faith and the Cost of Liberty

Yet, the mujahid children of this country, anchored by the power of faith and inspired by the brilliant history of their ancestors, stood face-to-face with that world-conquering power and raised the banner of struggle. They demonstrated that surrender and bowing before invaders find no place in the lexicon of Afghan life.

Our nation paid a heavy price for its freedom and independence: migrations, displacement, the destruction of harvests, the ruin of homes, and the loss of our beloved ones. Through scores of pains and hardships, our people managed to record their dignity and excellence in contemporary history. The World Bank has analyzed that from a financial perspective alone, the people of Afghanistan suffered $240 billion in damages during their noble Jihad—consequences we still feel today.

National Unity: The Pillar of Success

Esteemed compatriots! Faith in Allah ﷻ and unity within the ranks of the nation were the keys to our success on the sacred path of Jihad. In those difficult years, all Afghans—Pashtun and Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara, Turkmen and Baluch, Pashayi and Nuristani, Aymaq and Arab, Kyrgyz and Qizilbash, Gujar and Brahui—stood in a shared trench for the defense of the homeland. We jointly defended our religious aspirations and spoke with one tongue for our independence. Many attempts were made to divide us, but as a great and magnificent nation, we remained united.

The great victory over the Red Army was the result of the collective sacrifice of all the masses, peoples, and regions of this land. Our Jihad included scholars, teachers, intellectuals, poets, writers, artists, farmers, traders, and tribal elders. Almost the entire nation stood in a single front, and it was the blessing of this unity that granted us freedom and honor.

Reflections on Post-Victory Responsibilities

Brothers and sisters! We should have shown our gratitude for that great blessing. We should have emerged successful from the great test that faced us the day after victory. We deserved to step toward a bright and shining future after that historic win. Having defeated the enemy and attained freedom, we should have remained one. We should have dedicated ourselves to the prosperity of our mosques and schools. We should have brought our universities to full bloom. Upon the ruins left by that grueling war, we should have engaged in reconstruction. We should have applied balm to broken hearts and weary faces. We should have remembered the pain endured by the women, children, fathers, and mothers of this land. We should have transformed into a unified force for the greenery of our fields, the clearing of our roads, and the beauty of our cities.

Addressing a New Historical Juncture

Respected citizens! We are once again at a sensitive juncture in our history—a stage where the fate of our children and future generations is being decided. We are at a stage where, through national resolve, we can end war and insecurity. This is the firm will of the Government of National Unity. We can turn "tomorrow" into a bright and fortunate future for our descendants. This wish can be clothed in reality through the blessing of unity. History’s great lesson to us is this: if we are united and if we accept one another, no one will dare look upon our homeland with an evil eye. We must keep our unity strong and silence those voices that cause mischief, war, and discord in society.

If yesterday we were in a position where the world had forgotten Afghanistan and foreign hands sowed seeds of division among us, today we are in a different reality. Afghanistan today is a responsible partner for the international community. The isolation resulting from imposed wars has ended; we now hold a place in all important global calculations. We stand as a sovereign nation. We fight international terrorism with strength. Our defense and security forces are becoming more seasoned by the day, ready to defend our territorial integrity against any force.

The Current State of the Nation

The number of mosques built in these last fifteen years is unprecedented in our history. Our schools and universities are increasing. Civil society and media are active day and night. الاحزاب and political groups are present in various fields and are institutionalizing a democratic process.

Now is the time to reflect on the fruits of our Jihad and resistance. It is time to consider the suffering of our people and see how we can best honor that immense energy spent on freedom. It is time to create new horizons for cooperation so we can all walk together toward the aspirations of our martyrs.

A great wish of our martyrs was for peace and stability in their beloved homeland. We want a real peace—one where every Afghan is equal to another and lives in brotherhood and dignity. Those who seek war and mischief must understand that their path leads only to failure. Anyone who thinks they can impose themselves on others through force and oppression is mistaken; they only cause sedition and corruption. Those who shed the blood of Allah’s creatures have no future but infamy. A good future belongs to those who seek prosperity for society—those who build roads, mosques, and hospitals, and who know the art of living together with their fellow citizens.

Commitment to Peace and Reform

Brothers and sisters! We are committed to the values of Jihad and resistance. We believe in the aspirations of our martyrs and the requirements of the holy religion of Islam. We consider it our mission to work day and night to realize these demands; however, success is only possible through solidarity. We must join hands so our energy is spent on cooperation and construction. We have no choice but to end multi-sided divisions and make brotherhood and equality our way of life at all levels.

The road to that bright tomorrow is difficult, but it is no more difficult than winning independence or defeating the largest army of that era. Having recorded such a masterpiece in history, we must prove our ability to build a stable and progressing society. We must show we are the rightful heirs to the martyrs who sacrificed their sweet lives for the honor of this nation—just as our security forces sacrifice today. Giving up ethnic and linguistic differences, overlooking partisan interests for the sake of the greater national interest, and setting aside grievances for cooperation will prove that we do not play games with the blood of our martyrs.

The High Peace Council and the Call to Opponents

In conclusion, on this auspicious day, I wish to announce that consultations regarding the new leadership of the High Peace Council are nearing completion. In the next leadership, the leaders of our Jihad will have a very strong presence. These names will be announced very soon, and sisters will also be included. Just as our Mujahideen were heroes of the war for freedom, they will today be the leaders and heroes of the caravan of peace.

Taking this opportunity, I call upon all groups of the Taliban, the Hizb-e-Islami led by Hekmatyar Sahib, and other opponents: Come! Join the caravan of peace. Our embrace is open to any group that wishes to live in peace and brotherhood. Now that the general framework and roadmap for peace are prepared, it is the best opportunity for opponents to cease armed conflict. If the goal is political participation, our Constitution has closed the door to no one. We tell the opponents clearly: we believe in peace, and it is part of our faith and creed.

The Holy Quran states: "والصلح الخیر"—Peace is best! Peace is the best choice, not only for our people but even for those still in the trenches of rebellion. I address the Taliban groups once more: respect the divine call, the will of the people, and the sincere efforts of the Jihad leaders. When the path of dialogue is open, what need is there for violence? What answer do they have for the divine command in Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 61: "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing."

Final Appeal for Constitutional Governance

The Constitution of Afghanistan, based on Islamic values, allows all groups to pursue their political goals through peaceful means. The fallacy of calling a "power struggle" a "Jihad for religion" no longer holds credibility. Achieving the high goals of the Sharia is possible through peaceful paths. Everyone must know that through war, the only result is further ruin and the eventual isolation of Afghanistan.

The dire consequences of war do not only affect the people; they force these groups to knock on the doors of new masters every day, begging for support. Is it not better to return to the embrace of the nation and contribute to the building of this land?

I assure my nation that their aspirations and the dreams of their martyrs are within reach. The Government of National Unity is committed to fulfilling them. The time is not far when the sun of peace and stability will rise, and Afghanistan will no longer be dependent on others.

Long live Afghanistan!