Strategic Vision for National Unity, Democratic Governance, Social Justice, and a Peaceful Future

Speech at the 23rd Anniversary Commemoration of Ustad Abdul Ali Mazari

Keypoints:

• Unity over Division: Government as a point of connection.
• Ending Isolation: Develop Central Afghanistan’s potential.
• Mutual Dignity: Respect for all ensures dignity for each.
• Democratic Dialogue: Elections as national conversation.
• Invest in Youth: Education over symbolic mourning.
• Shared Struggle: Poverty as a collective responsibility.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Distinguished Excellencies and dear brothers: Ustad Danish, Dr. Abdullah, His Eminence Hazrat Sahib, Ustad Khalili, the Honorable Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga, the Honorable Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga, the Honorable Chief Justice of Afghanistan, the Honorable Attorney General, the great Mujahideen of our country, political leaders, members of the Cabinet and Parliament, the diplomatic corps, esteemed Ulama, youth, sisters, and brothers; Peace be upon you! Blessings be upon Muhammad, his family, and all his companions!

Tributes to the Fallen

First and foremost, I offer my condolences on the anniversary of Martyr Mazari to everyone present and to the nation of Afghanistan. Secondly, my condolences go to the martyrs of the 24th of Hoot in Herat—the heroes of the Afghan Jihad—and the martyrs of our security and defense forces. While the incident of the 18th of Hoot was tragic, I thank our security forces who sacrificed themselves. It is also fitting today to remember the martyrs of the Afghan Constitutionalist movement. If despotism represents one side of our history, the continuous struggle for freedom over the last 140 years represents the other. The Constitution we seek today is the result of their self-sacrifice; those who, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, were blown from cannons for their beliefs. May their memory be eternal.

The Arg: A House for All

I welcome you to the Arg—the house of all equal and brotherly tribes of Afghanistan. The Arg belongs to the people, where every Afghan is equal to every other Afghan. Welcome to the headquarters for the implementation of the Constitution, which is the primary duty of your National Unity Government and the guarantor of our national unity and social justice. Anyone who reads the Constitution sees the reflection of Martyr Mazari within it.

The National Unity Government’s Mission

Your National Unity Government was created to be a point of connection (wasl), not a point of separation (fasl). The era of division is over. This is the era of the book of national unity, integration, and our firm will to implement the Constitution. Especially as we undertake peace negotiations, the duty of this government is to protect the rights of all Afghans, particularly our courageous women, whose active presence I deeply appreciate.

The Evolution of Human Capital

I want to thank the generation present in this hall and across Afghanistan—a generation that has transformed the ideals of national unity and social justice into human, political, and economic capital. Today, no one can claim that the human potential of the Hazarajat or any other part of Afghanistan can be forced back into the past. Those days are over. The people are this country’s greatest asset, and no one wishes to regress. Our path is forward.

Recognition of Ustad Danish and Legal Reform

I want to express special gratitude to Ustad Danish for transforming "commemoration" into "analysis." A commemoration based on analysis is enduring. Ustad, you have reintroduced Martyr Mazari to the new generation from a unique perspective. I thank you for your round-the-clock efforts alongside Dr. Abdullah and myself. Over the past three and a half years, Ustad Danish, with the help of the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and the Minister of Justice, has prepared over 300 laws. I thank the National Assembly for laying a solid foundation for constitutional transformation through specific laws that secure the rights and obligations of the people.

Tribute to Ustad Khalili and the Scholarship Initiative

I thank Ustad Khalili, a symbol of national unity, a follower of Martyr Mazari, and a representative of peace. As your friend, I will not offer empty praise, but as a student of history, I believe future historians will judge your role with justice. You have passed the test of history. I particularly laud your initiative to turn these large commemorative gatherings into scholarships for our youth. This is the best way to invest in our future generations, and I hope other political parties and personalities follow this example.

Reflections on the National Unity Government

I express my special gratitude to my partner and brother, Dr. Abdullah. The National Unity Government was not, and is not, an easy task. But it is a necessity of our time. I hope the nation understands that this government lays the foundation for peace, prosperity, and stability. Our political embrace must be wide, not limited. The more we limit ourselves, the more we limit Afghanistan's potential. We began with the grand idea of solving forty years of inherited crises rather than adding to them.

Honoring the Jihadi Leadership

I thank the founders of the Afghan Jihad, including Hazrat Sahib Mujaddedi. The fact that Hazrat Sahib has joined us for a two-hour session shows his special affection for Martyr Mazari. Martyr Mazari once said of Hazrat Sahib that he is a just personality who addresses the people’s pain.

Democratic Vision and Elections

A democratic system, established through the will of the people and transparent elections, is the guarantor of both national unity and social justice. Every election becomes a national discourse. I hope the parliamentary and district council elections of 1397 and the presidential election of 1398 serve as a means for this national dialogue. As Dr. Abdullah stated, the government is committed to providing full, impartial support to the Independent Election Commission so the people can cast their votes. We are here based on the people’s will; this house belongs to the nation, and we are merely its temporary occupants. The Arg is neither a seat of despotism nor a personal property.

Breaking the "Geographical Prison"

Our vision is to end the bad legacies and pains we inherited. I say clearly: the geographical prison of Central Afghanistan is breaking. No power will ever again be able to turn Central Afghanistan into a prison. A transformed economy is essential for fundamental social justice. With resources like the 200 billion tons of iron in Hajigak, why should Central Afghanistan and the rest of the country not prosper? We must convert our physical capital into financial and economic capital.

State-Building and the Rule of Law

The path of state-building is long and requires focus. I thank the Chief Justice and the Attorney General for their work on the rule of law. You have seen that I have never interfered in a judicial case. The independence of our judiciary means the rule of law is established, ensuring people do not have to resort to conflict but can turn to the courts to resolve their problems justly.

National Identity and Shared Pain

In nation-building, we need an analytical understanding of the past, but we cannot allow the past to repeat itself. Our historical pain must not block our path to the future. If we lack historical understanding, we remain unaware of the suffering of our people; however, if we surrender to that pain, we sacrifice the future. After forty years of sacrifice, we must be future-oriented.

The Necessity of National Discourse

The present belongs to us—and not just to the youth as "leaders of tomorrow," but as leaders of today. We need a grand national discourse to listen to one another. Our history has both glories and pains. We must build the future based on those glories while ensuring the pains are never repeated. Peace requires a national consensus that recognizes our shared suffering. The deprived provinces are not deprived because of their ethnicity; we share a common deprivation. Disability, displacement, and migration affect all Afghans. We must understand that we have a shared future.

A Philosophy of Reciprocity

There is a profound Pashto proverb: "If you say 'It is I' and I say 'It is I,' neither you nor I shall exist. But if I say 'It is you' and you say 'It is you,' then both I and you shall exist." Integration means recognizing our shared destiny. Outside of Afghanistan, can any part of this society have more dignity than they have here? We have all seen the pain of migration. We are not a people without roots; we have five thousand years of history. We need the political patience to listen to each other.

Conclusion: The "Greater Jihad" for Construction

With an understanding of past pains and a belief in a united future, we must implement a roadmap for national unity and social justice. This requires a "Greater Jihad" (Jihad-e-Akbar) for construction, peace, and empathy. A nation where one-third of the people go to bed hungry requires our collective responsibility. Our greatest duty is to end poverty and injustice. In all of this, the personality of Martyr Mazari remains a bright light. As your servant and President, I believe that when Afghans decide with a single will, nothing is impossible.

To a prosperous, united, stable, and democratic Afghanistan! Long live Afghanistan!