From Jihad to Statebuilding: Sacrifice, Security, and National Reform in Afghanistan

Keypoints: 

• Honoring sacrifice: Remembering Mujahideen and martyrs of Afghanistan.
• National unity: Afghans must stand together beyond divisions.
• Defending the republic: Protect constitutional and democratic institutions.
• Fighting terrorism: Defeat extremism and violence.
• Good governance: Build strong institutions and fight corruption.
• Economic development: Promote growth and self-reliance.
• International cooperation: Partner with regional and global allies.
• Lasting peace: Ensure inclusive and sustainable peace.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Dr. Sahib Abdullah, Ustaz Danish, the Honorable Chief Justice, Mr. Ibrahimi, Mr. Muslimyar, all Jihadi leaders, members of the cabinet, generals of the Afghan Army, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and all honorable ambassadors, sisters and brothers.

First and foremost, I congratulate the Muslim nation of Afghanistan and all compatriots on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the victory and success of Jihad. Our Mujahideen made great sacrifices to secure the independence of our beloved country, to preserve Islamic values, and to establish a system based on the will of the people—sacrifices that we must never forget. The sacrifices of our people are unforgettable, and the epic of Jihad and the pride taken in it is the heritage of every Afghan and Muslim. It is the result of their sacrifices that today, Alhamdullilah, we are the owners of a democratic system and a constitution, and our people have the right to have a system, laws, and a government based on their own vote and choice.

The End of Governance by Terror

The era where a group could reach government through murder, bloodshed, and terror has come to an end. Those who still wish to reach power through murder and terror, in reality, know neither Islam nor Afghans, and we will eliminate them until the very end. Our nation was engaged in Jihad and struggle against oppressors and the hidden and manifest enemies of Afghanistan not only yesterday, but is so today as well, making sacrifices in the path of religion and the homeland. Last week’s martyrdom of 140 brave sons of this land in the Shaheen Corps, whose house of God was stained with blood, is another proof of this claim.

Mourning and Government Accountability

I offer prayers for the souls of the martyrs of the country’s defense and security forces who drank the cup of martyrdom in defense of their people and homeland; and I offer my condolences to the grieving families who sit in mourning for the loss of their loved ones—we are all in mourning. Furthermore, I wish a speedy recovery and full health to those who suffered physical and psychological harm at the hands of terrorist elements in recent events in the country, especially in Balkh-i-Bami.

I know that our country is experiencing hard and difficult days, and I know that the enemies of this homeland have crossed the final boundaries of cruelty and savagery and have committed horrific crimes against our children. I know that following these events, concerns shadow the mind and spirit of society regarding which direction conditions are heading and for how long we must witness such bitter and unpleasant incidents. I understand the concerns and feel the pains and grief with my entire being, and I share in the sorrow and anguish of my people.

I accept that all of us—both I and other government officials—have a duty to identify the existing shortcomings in our government departments and institutions, to take all necessary measures for the better performance of institutional duties and officials, and to confront any negligence or carelessness in duty, especially in the defense and security sectors, with total seriousness. As you witnessed, some necessary actions have already taken place at the leadership level of defense and security institutions, and other programs are on the way.

The Imposed War and Strategic Choices

But friends and loved ones! Let us also remember that the current sacrifices are part of the price we pay for freedom and liberation. For several decades, efforts to enslave our nation have been ongoing and conspiracies have been plotted for this goal. Especially since the day international terrorists found their way to our land, and the seeds of their bloody and horror-creating ideologies were sown in this region, the destruction of infrastructure and the annihilation of our land's government institutions became a primary goal for them and their regional supporters.

We are placed in an imposed war that has presented us with an important historical choice. On one side of this war are those who consider destruction and killing both a means and an end, both a tactic and a strategy, and have linked it to policy and creed. On the other side of this battle stands a nation that wants to straighten its back from under the burden of wars and displacement, to end sufferings and deprivations, and to reach the peace and comfort that is its right.

The Legitimacy of the Contemporary Struggle

The claim of the criminals and their supporters is trade with blood, religion, and the lives of the innocent, and ultimately setting fire to the lives of all the peoples of this region so that, in their imagination, they may establish their illusory and cursed empire upon the ruins left from the destruction of nations. However, the claim of our nation is a dignified life, an honorable peace, and nationwide security, which in the view of Sharia, custom, intellect, ethics, and law, is a righteous claim.

Just as our Jihad yesterday was a Jihad of truth against falsehood, so too today, the struggle of our defense and security forces against terrorist savages is a Jihad and struggle of truth against falsehood. Just as yesterday our Jihad was approved by the Islamic world and the rest of the world, today, the Islamic world and the rest of the world affirm the bravery and confrontation of our defense and security forces and consider them righteous. Just as yesterday the nation stood by the side of the Mujahideen and our Jihad encompassed all of Afghanistan, today as well, the nation stands by the side of its defense and security forces, and the ranks of the army and police include children from all regions of Afghanistan. I thank the Jihad-loving nation of Afghanistan from the bottom of my heart for their firm support of their defense and security forces and for sending their children to the trenches of Afghanistan's honor and independence.

National Resistance vs. Submission

Dear brothers and sisters! In this breathtaking struggle, we are not faced with many choices; we have only two: either surrendering to the fate that bloodthirsty criminals and their supporters want to determine for us and the people of this region—so that their black palace of evil may be raised upon the ruins of culture and civilization and upon the corpses of nations—or resistance and standing firm to bring these criminal groups to their knees and to fail the plans their supporters have in mind.

We are confident that victory in this struggle belongs to us; it belongs to a people who want nothing other than a peaceful life, a prosperous country, a flourishing culture, and a bright future. We do not seek the destruction or ruin of anyone; our soldiers do not fight for aggression or savagery; our nation does not harbor the wish for the destruction of others, and our Islamic culture and civilization are not the birthplace of extremism, terrorism, and savagery. We have defined no land as our "strategic depth," we have signed no pact of brotherhood with any terrorist group, we have not taken the path of trade with blood and destruction, and we have no wish other than goodness and well-being for ourselves, our neighbors, and other countries.

The Imperative of Fundamental Reform

Honorable compatriots! An important lesson of the last few decades of our dear Afghanistan was that to emerge from crisis, it is necessary to have a robust, nation-centered state that is loyal to the law. Crisis is not a natural phenomenon and must end, but to end it, we need not only the bravery and self-sacrifice of the defense and security forces, but we also require fundamental reforms. Reforms are in the interest of the entire nation, both the current generation and future generations.

Our political class must accept the reality that now is not the time for gaining privileges for oneself, but the time for self-sacrifice and devotion to preserve the historical dignity and greatness of the country and to win the rights of current and future generations. The people want reforms, and for fundamental reforms, both the necessary capacity and the will exist. The National Unity Government has a firm will to implement reforms and with total unity, we will bring reforms to performance and completion. If we, God forbid, hesitate in the matter of fundamental reforms in the coming two-year period and do not see it as a serious and immediate necessity, then there is a risk that the next four generations will also live in crisis, and this condition is in no way acceptable.

The Fight Against Corruption and Rule of Law

This reality must be clear to all: the nation does not have the patience to tolerate corruption, and the corrupt must not be justified under any title. Last week when I went to visit the wounded of the Shaheen Corps, almost every wounded soldier told me separately that the path of corruption and disorder must be blocked. I say with emphasis that a clear will exists for the rule of law. Our judicial and legal institutions are stronger and more independent than at any other time in the past fifteen years. No one should attempt to politically interfere in the judicial and legal institutions. As various estimates show, tangible progress has been made in the confrontation with corruption in the past two years, and this confrontation will continue until the roots of corruption are fully pulled out.

Commitment to Elections

Brothers and sisters! Elections are another important subject before us. As I have said before, the Presidential elections will be held on their own time and date and there will be no delay. Likewise, this year we have the Parliamentary elections ahead of us. The Independent Election Commission, the honorable Mr. Ahmadzai and his colleagues, have independence in their affairs according to the law, and the government cooperates with the Commission in all those areas where help and consultation are necessary. Dr. Sahib Abdullah, Ustaz Danish, and I are in complete agreement regarding the demands of the people for the timely conduct of elections, and we remain committed to carefully studying and acting upon the views of different strata of the people regarding the further transparency of the elections.

Lessons from History and National Unity

Honorable compatriots! The celebration of historical occasions provides us with an opportunity to review the past—both the near past and the distant and more distant past. With a correct understanding of the past, we can achieve a clear vision for the future. Our past is comprised of bravery, sacrifice, creativity, and great historical role-playing. In every historical period and against every invading force, we stood with strength and firmness and defended the dignity and credit of our homeland.

During the era of the holy Jihad, we faced the largest army in the world during the Cold War and did not bow our heads in surrender, and we inspired the spirit of independence and freedom-seeking in other nations. Therefore, we are confident that a nation capable of standing against the most well-equipped armies of the world will certainly stand against mercenary and terrorist small groups and will be victorious.

We are only vulnerable in conditions where our internal ranks are fractured, our internal unity becomes shaky, our mutual trust weakens, and the unpleasant whispers of ethnic, regional, linguistic, religious, and group differences distress the ears of our society and people. This is the very large breach that we must deal with vigilantly and responsibly. Every unmeasured word, every emotional positioning, every irresponsible action, and every conduct contrary to national interests gives the enemies of our nation the opportunity to take the initiative and implement their sinister goals.

Conclusion: A United Front

We must all join hands and bring the Jihad against terrorism, corruption, and poverty to success. I assure my people that the aspirations of our pure martyrs will surely be fulfilled and the homeland will be saved from the evil of heroin dealers, terrorists, murderers, and thieves.