State-Building, National Unity, and Democratic Reform in Afghanistan

Keypoints:

• Strong state-building vision: Build a centralized, institutional state.
• Governance and institutions: Ensure law, justice, and accountability.
• Political unity: Reject division and promote national unity.
• Democracy and legitimacy: Support free and fair elections.
• Peace and security: Achieve peace while protecting security forces.
• Economic development: Reduce poverty through reforms and resources.
• National identity: Strengthen sovereignty and public ownership.
• Reform and inclusion: Promote elections, women, youth, and cooperation.

Independent Election Commission

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

Dear compatriots, sisters and brothers, the First Lady of the country, our collaborative team, and all attendees!

In my future government, the highest executive decision-making body will be a four-person team operating under my leadership. This team consists of Mr. Saleh, Professor Danish, and Mr. Ghazanfar.

Mr. Amrullah Saleh is a young leader who possesses extensive experience in the security sector and is fully aware of Afghanistan’s strategic interests and issues. National interests are paramount to him, and he is committed to the necessity of Afghanistan having a strong state.

Similarly, Mr. Sarwar Danish, with whom I have four and a half years of positive working experience, has been and remains a vital asset to the Afghan government in the realm of law and legislation.

Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Ghazanfar, a former member of Parliament and a national businessman, has implemented innovative designs in Afghanistan's economic sector and created jobs for thousands of people.

A Team for State-Building

The defining characteristic of this team is a combination of three generations who possess commitment, experience, vision, expertise, intention, and a clear will for the future of Afghanistan. Our team is a "State-Building Team" (Dolat-Saz); we believe that only a strong state can resolve the current crises. The forty-year crises of our country essentially stem from the absence of an effective and strong state.

In our view, our dignity and future lie in a strong state, not in a structure built upon fragmentation. We believe any type of "fragmentation agreement" weakens the state from within. Unfortunately, since the second invasion of Afghanistan in 1879, there has been external pressure to keep our state fragmented and weak—and during this time, some internal elements have assisted in this effort.

Our team has the will, resolve, intention, and plan to complete the "Unfinished Chapter" of our history, the foundation of which was laid by King Amanullah Khan Ghazi. Those who represent the past cannot represent the future. The desire of the Afghan nation is to have a robust and strong state; in our view, those representing the past cannot fulfill the aspirations of our dear nation. Only an effective and committed government can earn the trust of the Afghan people. For our team, a strong state is not centered on an individual; it is centered on strong, lawful institutions.

Responsibility, Not Spoils

The last forty years of history have shown that any team formed on the basis of division and the promise of "splitting shares" weakens the state and fails to fulfill the dreams of our citizens. The time for illegitimate compromises is over; the people can judge those who rely on such deals.

We intend to end "street justice" and extrajudicial rulings. This can only be guaranteed by a strong state. Every Afghan citizen must be assured that cases are resolved in fair courts and that this country will be built on justice! Our team believes that the State is a responsibility, not spoils of war!

The state is not a windfall of wealth to be divided among a limited few. It is the result of the sacrifices of millions of Afghans and the martyrdom of our security forces. The state must serve the nation, not specific individuals. After God, the Afghan nation is the owner of this state, and we are accountable to them. The experience of fragmentation in Afghanistan has never worked and always creates crises. Only an untarnished, people-centered legitimacy can save Afghanistan; we seek that untarnished legitimacy.

Peace and Security

In the upcoming elections, our people have two choices: a move toward fragmentation and a return to the past, or the creation of an effective and accountable unity. We will bring peace on behalf of a dignified and suffering nation—but we will not beg for it.

I am proud of every single member of our security and defense forces and their families. The blood of our martyrs will always be in our sight; we and the entire nation are indebted to them. As Commander-in-Chief and a presidential candidate, I take pride in them. Our team pledges that no "deal" will ever be made at the expense of our dignified forces. When peace is established, it will be the protector of their dignity. I was the first to propose peace, and this team is committed to bringing it.

If my head is sacrificed for the sake of peace, let it be so—but it must be a lasting peace, not a peace of "deals" and compromises!

Economic Self-Reliance and Sovereignty

 I thank our international partners who have stood by us in recent years. As I have stated many times, Afghanistan's stability is a matter of mutual interest. We defend our national interests with courage; our relations with the international community are based on mutual interests, not dependency!

Afghanistan is on the front line of the fight against terrorism and the front line of global security. We are committed to establishing a structured harmony across all levels of government to ensure good governance. From the village level to districts, municipalities, provinces, and national institutions, there will be the same rule of law. We must restore our intellectual independence and believe in our future as a dignified nation with a powerful state.

Only intellectual independence can help us activate the treasures beneath our feet—our minerals—and the treasures above—our water, strategic location, and land. This goal will be achieved by the end of the next term, God willing. This momentum will lead to the eradication of hunger in our society.

I repeat: The largest "tribe" in Afghanistan is the poor. This great tribe exists in every village and street. We cannot tolerate that one-third of our population goes to bed hungry. Ending hunger is our slogan. Serving this great "tribe" is our commitment. Despite the challenges, we have laid important foundations in economy, security, and the rule of law. The next government will not have to start from zero.

Conclusion

The future government will begin its work as a unified and like-minded team. A strong state representing a great nation can only emerge through democracy and elections. Afghanistan was handed to us under the most difficult conditions. I hope the judgment is that we guaranteed the survival of the nation through patience and precision. We have reached the first floor from the foundation.

Five years ago, I told you that upon my arrival, the thieves would flee. You saw that half of them fled; when our team wins with full authority, dealing with the rest will be easy! Regarding the elections, I join the people in demanding serious reform of the electoral commissions. Reform is necessary, inevitable, and coming.

As President, I want to state that it is my responsibility to equally defend the sanctuary, dignity, and honor of every Afghan, including all political critics and opponents. I instruct the security forces to provide equal security coverage to all presidential candidates.

Four and a half years ago, upon my arrival, the "Decade of Transformation" began. The great goal of this decade is that by its end, we possess a dignified, stable, and self-reliant Afghanistan. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of reclaiming our independence. We hope that from now on, we celebrate the anniversary of our independence every year in a way that shows we are independent in every respect. Alongside political independence, achieving economic independence and standing on our own feet is our fundamental goal. The centenary of independence must be the guarantor of our national unity and our primary asset.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the restoration of our country's independence, we must show everyone that we are one united nation. To reach these goals—which are the desire and expectation of all Afghan people—it is necessary to defend the Constitution. Therefore, give me the full authority to implement the Constitution fundamentally and ensure equality for every Afghan with every other Afghan.

Commitment to Governance and Reform

My government has commitments to our fellow citizens until the end of its current term. During this period, our programs and plans will largely focus on peace and security, good governance, and the eradication of hunger. In the past four and a half years, a key point of my every foreign trip was to demonstrate to the world that Afghanistan's geography is not a threat, but an opportunity. Our efforts in this path have been successful.

Our message to the region is that we have plans for regional prosperity and a positive program for every neighboring country. We want Afghanistan to be not only a crossroads for regional countries but a center of cooperation and coordination for the entire world. However, I must state clearly: we will not tolerate interference for malicious purposes under any circumstances. Therefore, we want to reach a consensus with the region and the rest of the world for the sake of prosperity and stability.

Social Inclusion and the Rule of Law

In my government, the connection between the Arg (Presidential Palace) and the youth, women, and especially the esteemed Ulama (scholars) has become easier and more frequent. As I promised, the distance between the Mosque and the Arg is being eliminated and will grow stronger and closer every day. In the last four years, such numbers of religious scholars and esteemed Sufis have come to the Arg that it has no precedent in our history.

Afghan women now have their own voice, and no one else speaks on their behalf. In my government, women have proven they can accomplish great tasks, and our team's commitment is that their share and role will increase even further. I thank the First Lady for her tireless efforts.

To the representatives of the economic sector, our message is clear: through the enforcement of the law, we will provide a ground where no one can look at their capital with a malicious eye. The opportunity has changed, and investors can turn their wealth into legitimate capital.

The Path Forward

An important point I must make is that until the next presidential election, I am the President alongside being a candidate. Until the election results are announced, I will perform my duties as President and your "First Servant." The country requires much work, and my primary focus will be on the duties of the presidency, not on the campaign.

We pledge that, God willing, the presidential elections, provincial and district council elections, and any elections not held during the parliamentary cycle will take place in the month of Saratan (June/July). Our hope is that the election results will be announced to the nation in a single day!

This country is a land of consultation, and major decisions are made through extensive consultation. When we speak of the rule of law, it must be implemented across all institutions—whether it is the law of political parties, trade unions, or chambers of commerce. They must also hold internal elections so these institutions are legally and electively accountable to the nation.

A Call to Unity

The secret of our success lies in our harmony and unity. As we enter the threshold of the presidential elections, we ask all honorable candidates to share their detailed reform plans with the nation. Furthermore, we ask the candidates to observe the rules of the election. Our common goal must be to emerge from these elections with a strong state and a strong nation. We should agree now on any necessary reform processes so that no doubt or suspicion remains regarding the results. The people of Afghanistan must give us the authority to fulfill the nation's demands with firm resolve, and this can only happen through free and transparent elections.

In conclusion, I call upon the great Afghan nation to participate extensively in these ongoing elections during this history-making stage to end this forty-year crisis and complete the century-long "Unfinished Chapter" of state-building.