Dr. Ashraf Ghani

Message issued as a response to the new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan

Keypoints:

National Security: Afghan forces’ readiness and sacrifices.
Sovereignty: Upholding constitutional authority and independence.
Unity: Solidarity across regions, ethnicities, and generations.
Partnerships: Strategic international cooperation.
Reforms: Governance, rule of law, and development.
Peace: Negotiation and political solutions.
Future: Stability, prosperity, and youth opportunities.
Regional Ties: Strong relations with neighbors and global partners.

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

Dear compatriots, dear sisters and brothers!

In these three weeks, we had the honor of visiting three Afghan corps and the special commando force. We want to first express our gratitude to Almighty God that our people support our security and defense forces—National Police, National Army, and National Security—with such honor, courage, and heroism, as they have defended this land daily as heroes. I also want to express gratitude to all officials of the security and defense forces and to Mr. Atmar.

We want to express our gratitude to every single member of our security and defense forces—as we said in the corps and other meetings—and to their families. Every individual currently serving in the security and defense forces of Afghanistan is a volunteer and makes sacrifices for this homeland daily. In honor of our martyrs, the responsibility belongs to the entire nation, and the necessity is very clear. Today, as we stand at a turning point in the history of Afghanistan, the region, and the world, we express our gratitude and pay tribute to the heroism of our security and defense forces over the past two and a half years. I also want to express my gratitude to all members of the National Unity Government, especially Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and my colleagues.

The past two and a half years were not easy years. Because we were in conditions of ambiguity regarding the future; but by relying on God (SWT), national unity, and our political will, today we have reached a time where the conditions of ambiguity are fading away and the direction and path of Afghanistan's future are clearly known. I express my gratitude to all my civilian colleagues, the Minister of Finance and all his colleagues, and the ambassadors who worked hard to convince the international community, leading to a clear commitment for the future of Afghanistan at the Warsaw and Brussels conferences.

The Foundation of Foreign Policy and Key Partnerships

What is the basis of our foreign policy? Providing conditions that result in achieving lasting stability, peace, and prosperity for Afghanistan, which can only be done on the basis of the Constitution of Afghanistan, national unity, national sovereignty, and the integrity of our sacred soil. To implement these goals, we had to define our key partners and invest in them. Our key partners are those countries that share interests with us and hold a common position with us in times of danger. Therefore, the special position of the United States in this regard was and is fundamental and principled. We were able to create an atmosphere of trust and a definition of common interests, and as a result, we will move forward, answer difficult questions, and prevent programs and directives in which the national interests and Islamic identity of Afghanistan are protected.

At the same time, strengthening our relations with neighbors, the region, the Islamic world, and international institutions is a key part of our foreign policy. I hope my compatriots are convinced that our foreign policy is a successful one. Because in Afghanistan, without a successful foreign policy, one cannot rely solely on conditions in which countries that have not seen crisis, war, conflict, and displaced people live. Afghanistan has seen forty years of crisis, and our national mission is to end these crises and put a stop to them so that future generations of Afghanistan can consume that great wealth God (SWT) has given to this land for the development and prosperity of the homeland with confidence and credit.

Appreciation of the New U.S. Strategy

I want to specifically express my gratitude today for President Trump's new strategy, and several points are important in this regard:

First, this strategy is the product of a comprehensive process for analyzing the situation, calculating past lessons, and identifying elements of success. Some circles thought we should speak, always be in the press, and participate in debates; securing the strategic interests of Afghanistan requires strategic patience. We are not a country or responsible individuals who tremble like a willow at every wind; because we had a clear definition of our common interests, we were confident that the nationwide review process would, God willing, reach the results that President Trump reached yesterday. In this regard, we express our gratitude to all our colleagues in the United States, to General Nicholson, to Ambassador Lawrence, and other colleagues here. Especially two unprecedented visits by the U.S. National Security Advisor General McMaster and CIA Director Mr. Pompeo were truly unprecedented. It is necessary to emphasize that our colleagues here answered their basic and fundamental questions with wisdom, logic, and analysis. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my security colleagues sitting in the ranks, as well as to the Minister of Finance who participated in this and our ambassador to the U.S.

Condition-Based Success vs. Time-Bound Constraints

Second; a clear definition of the set goal has been determined. What is the goal? Success, depending on conditions, not on time constraints. One of the lessons of the past was that destructive insinuations always said that they have time and the watch is with others. Today it should be clear to them that they are neither owners of time nor is it necessary to buy a watch; because their political life, terrorism, discord, and sedition are coming to an end. In these conditions, it is clear that the key role of our security and defense forces has been mentioned repeatedly; we started, we did not obtain our goals and interests only in the field of politics, but we obtained this as a result of the nationwide sacrifice of the security and defense forces. Mr. Chief of Staff, Mr. Minister of Defense, Mr. Senior Deputy for Security, Mr. Atmar, and Mr. Stanekzai, please give this message to all security and defense forces—my audience today is them. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Afghanistan, I am proud that by the grace of God (SWT) we possess individuals and have carried out reforms that have truly established our credibility in the region and the world, and here I want to express my gratitude for the immense patience of the people of Afghanistan.

If there were other people in place of our people, they would have dissolved today; it is we who have accepted death, accepted poverty, and accepted accidental bombings, but we have never forgotten our national interests. In all those places, especially in Haska Meyna and other places where accidental bombings occurred.

I thank the people of Afghanistan from the bottom of my heart; this grief is one grief wherever it occurs. Whether ISIS killed our children and a six-month-old girl in Khak-e-Afghan, or if it was in Shinwar, or if they are in Momand Dara, or Sar-e-Pul, or in any other corner of Afghanistan, Badakhshan or anywhere else... All of Afghanistan today is one home and has one grief, but what I truly bow my head to is both the immense patience of the people of Afghanistan and their very useful judgment. The people of Afghanistan, including in Kandahar yesterday, do not tell me to perform a miracle; they tell me to protect the national interests of Afghanistan for future generations, and this is the result of the political judgment of this nation. Everyone should value this political judgment of the nation. Such a wise nation is unique in the world, and it is necessary that we all value this nation. Again, we thank God (SWT) for giving us such a nation that even in the worst conditions still emphasizes a bright future and a bright tomorrow.

Regional Clarity and Combating Terrorist Networks

The third element of the new strategy is clarity regarding regional conditions. One of our demands over decades was always that the war in Afghanistan is not a civil war; it has deep roots in the region and the conditions of global extremism. Therefore, creating conditions that provide clear messages both to regional partners and to those who were barriers to creating conditions for peace and stability is one of the very clear advancements, and for this reason, we thank President Trump and the U.S. administration.

The fourth point is that the definition of interests is clear, and the definition of danger is also clear. The danger is transnational terrorist networks and regional criminal networks. Therefore, our struggle is based on common interests. Let us have complete clarity in this regard that the people of Afghanistan are never against or on the side opposite to our international partners. Conditions have been created where cooperation with the government, nation, and the defense and security forces of Afghanistan is the primary focus, and the method of reform belongs to us. We proposed the reforms; now we have international cooperation in their implementation. Therefore, my other emphasis is that we are at a turning point, both as a people and nation and as a state.

First: two and a half years ago there was an atmosphere of distrust, now there must be an atmosphere of trust that in the next 4 years we will reach our goals. It is not that from now on we will be in a reactive state. We will have the initiative of action in hand and in the first stage, we will implement our four-year security and defense plan. Let there be complete clarity here that the origin and source of this plan is us. We prepared all parts of the reforms and we convinced the world. I want to thank all security and defense forces, soldiers, non-commissioned officers, troops, officers, and generals in the police, army, and national security who have worked as my teachers. I thank Mr. Atmar, the members of the Security Council, especially Dr. Abdullah, as we have all come to a consensus that this is a necessity for Afghanistan.

Second: extensive reforms in all dimensions, rule of law, governance, administrative infrastructure, and our social policy are the necessity of the time. In terms of reforms, we have no choice; the people of Afghanistan, especially 40 percent of our people living below the poverty line, demand comprehensive reforms from us. These reforms did not come from outside. Every time I sat with the people, especially the youth, women, and the deprived people who are deprived classes. The necessity of reforms is what they say, and I thank the Minister of Finance for the roadmap of the Brussels Conference and his colleagues. We prepared this roadmap and its implementation is our duty.

Thirdly, which is a turning point, is the creation of stable relations in the region and our definition of it, including India and neighboring countries: China, Central Asia, Iran to Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Islamic world. In the past two and a half years, we succeeded by our own initiative in convincing a large part of the region that Afghanistan has been a point of cooperation, connection, and coordination, not a point of separation. Therefore, there was full readiness for whether favorable international conditions would exist; meaning favorable international conditions have been created, now our cooperation in the region will double and multiply.

The Path to Peace and State-to-State Relations with Pakistan

Fourth point: we are at a turning point in removing ambiguity for the Taliban and their supporters who think they can win the war and overthrow the Afghan state or change this sacred geography into two geographies; they should put this thought out of their heads. Your conspiracies, your seditions have only caused the dishonor of our nation, the martyrdom of our brave youth, and the death of our sisters and mothers. The only solution is the political way; so in this state where we know the conditions for security success are prepared, we again call upon you: if you are truly Afghans, take the path of peace, take the path of negotiations, and take the path of politics. We are a land of Jirgas. We are a land of Markas. The land of Jirgas and Markas does not answer back to any of its citizens unless that citizen, that compatriot, sells his homeland or commits betrayal against his mother. Respect this milk that mothers have given you. Listen to the cries of the sisters. How many Afghan women do you make widows, how many families do you seat on the carpet of grief? This is not the way! Therefore, today is a day and a place of turning where we gather as one nation. Among us, from the lineage of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), the culture of forgiveness and reconciliation exists, and all our tribes—Pashtun, Uzbek, Turkmen, Tajik, Hazara, Aimaq, Pashayi, Nuristani—have lineages of Markas, and it is necessary to enter the path of peace through that way which we are reaching. We saw it with Hezb-e-Islami; we had the will, the intention, and we prepared the conditions. Now we must come to the message of peace to get ourselves out of these conditions.

My fifth point is that we want state-to-state peace with Pakistan; we want lasting peace. An unstable Afghanistan is in no one's interest and specifically will have very negative effects on Pakistan. The fact that a consensus has been reached today that Pakistan must rethink its previous method and tradition—this is an opportunity. Therefore, it is necessary to have a comprehensive discussion with a clear goal, which is state-to-state relations between two governments and the honor of Afghanistan, the Constitution, and sovereignty; all these conditions are clear. The definition of a state is clear in international laws. We want nothing else, and let it be clear that Afghanistan has never taken action for the instability of Pakistan. Our strategic patience regarding those actions taken against our national interests is not out of fear; it is out of prudence. Because we want small matters not to prevent great works, and we say clearly that we want comprehensive conditions to be prepared so that instead of spending years in war, we solve issues at the negotiation table and clarify the fundamental interests of Afghanistan. Why are attacks carried out from foreign soil against our children, our scholars, our youth? Who reached martyrdom at the American University? Ustad Khwapak, young girls and boys! Why does an atmosphere of fear come upon our universities? We all have a common share. Let it also be clear here that this Afghanistan is not the old Afghanistan; we have many economic alternatives. The path of cooperation is open. There are other paths in the world. But from a political perspective, we want coherent, predictable, and good relations with all neighbors, and it is hoped that in the field of these relations, the officials of our neighboring country hear our message and conditions change for this.

National Will and Strategic Resilience

The fifth point is the necessity of mobilizing national will. Dear sisters and brothers! Dear compatriots! we emerged from the state that was prevailing; the position of Afghanistan in the international consensus has been clarified. The nation, the defense forces, and the government of Afghanistan are credited by the world. Therefore, the environment we wished for over years has been provided today; but the use of this suitable environment depends on our national will. We cannot blame anyone else. Therefore, we must have a clear and common vision for national goals. Our greatest goal is to end the forty-year crisis prevailing over Afghanistan. Living in crisis generation after generation is neither natural nor logical. We must end the prevailing crisis. Future generations want only one gift from us, and that is the creation of conditions of stability.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has the best Constitution in the region; look at the first chapter—there is not a shred of doubt or hesitation in the Islamic identity of the state and society. We were Muslim, we are, and we will be forever. No one—I say with courage—has sacrificed as much as the people of Afghanistan for the sake of the holy religion of Islam and Islamic beliefs; the Islamic world should pay tribute to our martyrs and take them into consideration. Therefore, our basic goal is the implementation of the Constitution, and the implementation of our Constitution has clearly taken place on the basis of national unity and the equality of every Afghan with every Afghan. In this section, we must have a clear definition of the obstacles. If we do not define the obstacles correctly, our effort is sometimes misplaced.

The worst type of activity is for a human to run in a fixed place and have no movement; our people want movement and the world in these conditions wants to witness a fundamental movement. Because the world has not told us what kind of movement we should bring; because that is our work, but clear movement toward the demands of the people of Afghanistan is fundamental. Therefore, the key emphasis of the government's programs is on the three numerical majorities: "youth, women, and deprived classes." To bring connection between all Afghans, it is necessary that our programs be majority-oriented and that social justice be in balance with economic growth, and by the grace of God (SWT), the most deprived parts of the country are the points where the greatest wealth of Afghanistan lies. Therefore, there is no contradiction and it is a clear necessity that our programs be focused.

I again thank the security and defense forces. I thank the entire nation for their patience, sacrifice, and selflessness, and I thank President Trump and his administration that after very deep discussion, comprehensive review, and fundamental debates, they came to a strategy in which, God willing, lies both our good and their interests. Do not forget that Afghanistan is not only the front line of the struggle but also the front line of global security. Here our common interests are linked. It is necessary that we provide those conditions so that everyone reaches this conclusion and understands that interests are not only on a negative basis—meaning causing dangers. On this occasion, I want to give special thanks because from now on, in the economic sector and for the development of Afghanistan's natural resources, comprehensive assistance and partnership will take place. Our partnership is a partnership of two partners that reached a result based on common interests, and God willing, in implementing this, the government and nation of Afghanistan will not hesitate to show any selflessness.

Finally, I want to assure our colleagues in the press that today the only necessity was for me to both explain the conditions and share them with our strategic partners as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. In the coming week, we will hold a press conference so that both the officials of the defense forces and I can answer the questions of our compatriots and citizens.