Condolences and Resolve: Afghanistan’s Stand Against Terrorism

Speech in response to the suicide terrorist attack in Dehmazang, Kabul

Keypoints: 

• Condolence: Share grief with victims’ families.
• Unity: Terrorism cannot divide Afghans.
• Security: Strengthen protection and honor forces.
• Justice: Investigate and punish perpetrators.
• Civil Rights: Protect peaceful protests and freedoms.
• Government Duty: Safeguard citizens effectively.
• Public Role: Citizens assist in maintaining safety.
• Resilience: Uphold hope, peace, and national strength.

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Distinguished Compatriots, Sisters, and Brothers! Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh!

I offer my deepest condolences to the honorable families and my fellow citizens who lost their loved ones today in the cowardly attack by our enemies. Today, I mourn as a father to these martyrs, and I share in the pain and grief of every family that has suffered the loss of a loved one or had someone wounded.

On behalf of the nation, I declare tomorrow a day of National Mourning. I call upon the mosques and religious centers to offer prayers for the souls of our martyrs. Furthermore, I have directed all security and health institutions to utilize every available state resource for the treatment of the wounded.

The pain of our nation is an endless narrative of suffering, inflicted continuously for decades upon our people by ruthless criminals. Today’s cowardly attack was an assault on the civil liberties of our nation—liberties that constitute the solid pillars of our Constitution. Our enemy, in their naivety, believes that by targeting civil freedoms and our citizens, they can sow fear and division among us. However, they remain ignorant of the fact that this nation, in such moments, preserves its unity of action and thought, standing collectively and individually to safeguard its values.

Tragically, in this attack, approximately 60 of our citizens were martyred and nearly 200 were wounded. The victims include both civilians and members of our security forces, including the police. Our courageous security personnel identified and neutralized the second suicide bomber in time, preventing further devastation.

As a father and the primary official of this country, while I have always welcomed civil protests as a means to strengthen our nascent democracy, I have simultaneously remained deeply concerned for the safety of every citizen and protester, knowing the nature of our cunning enemy. It is for this reason that my security colleagues and I were engaged in continuous dialogue with the protest organizers for over a week. Strict security measures were implemented today for this very reason; yet, the treacherous enemy utilized every possible means and opportunity to once again reveal its executioner-like face to our nation.

I understand that the protests of our citizens can stem from various motivations, but I firmly believe that these protests are solely civil, justice-seeking, and peaceful. I have listened to the individual aspirations and demands of our youth from all walks of life. Consequently, I strive day and night to ensure that no citizen is judged by their ethnicity or geography, but rather attains their place in government based on merit and capability. This is a difficult and long path, but I am certain that by preserving our unity, we will collectively achieve a better Afghanistan.

My Honorable Compatriots!

I promise you that I will seek justice for the blood of these loved ones from the perpetrators of this crime. Furthermore, I have ordered the establishment of a High-Level Commission, composed of national figures from both the public and private sectors and led by the Attorney General, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident. Whether the culprit is within the government or outside of it, they shall be punished.

I call upon the great nation of Afghanistan once more to assist our security forces in identifying the enemy and securing our land.

May our beloved Afghanistan be peaceful, and may our people remain under the protection of Allah (SWT).

Long Live Afghanistan!