Support for Martyrs’ Families, Institutional Reform, and the Role of Security Forces in a Dignified Peace

• Martyrs Honor: Recognizing sacrifices of fallen soldiers.
• Family Support: Providing state aid to martyrs’ families.
• Veteran Care: Supporting wounded and disabled fighters.
• Transparency: Ensuring fair and corruption-free distribution.
• Institutional Reform: Improving systems like biometric delivery.
• State Duty: Government responsibility toward martyrs’ families.
• Security Forces: Upholding legitimacy of national forces.
• Peace with Dignity: Peace must protect security institutions.

Salam Khana Palace

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

Honorable families and survivors of the esteemed martyrs of this country—the martyrs who preserved the freedom, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Afghanistan with their blood; the martyrs because of whose blessings we are able to hold such gatherings today; our respected disabled veterans who made sacrifices in the service of this homeland; all sisters and brothers, Governor of Kabul Mr. Ayubi, Mr. Hotaki, Mr. Qayoumi, the Minister of Defense, respected Minister Stanikzai, the Chief of Army Staff, the First Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs, respected generals, respected sisters, General Amiri who has always stood by the families of the martyrs, and all compatriots; Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!

I have held hundreds of meetings in the Arg, but this meeting holds a very specific importance for me. The reason is that today we have moved from words and remembrance of the martyrs, from slogans, into action. Today, the promise of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to pay fundamental attention to the families of martyrs has transformed from words into reality. This coupon program is a first step, and I congratulate you all on this milestone.

Eradicating Corruption to Fund Welfare Programs

The question is, why were we able to achieve today what we intended to do four years ago? The primary reason was that we lacked funds. I express my gratitude to Mr. Hotaki for organizing the distribution, and to Mr. Qayoumi and all the colleagues who worked continuously in procurement. People used to ask me and say, "Has this President of Afghanistan gone mad that he chairs the National Procurement Commission himself every week?" Last night, there were fifty dossiers. The reason I personally chair these sessions is to save 18 billion Afghanis, so that we can seek out and support you—the families of our martyrs.

A limited circle committed theft, but Afghanistan bore the infamy of it. We are putting an end to theft, ensuring transparency, and fulfilling our commitment. At the same time, I want to thank the Minister of Defense, Mr. Stanikzai, the Chief of Staff, Saboor Khan, the First Deputy Minister of Interior, and all our generals whose daily focus remained on the affairs of the martyrs. I want to assure every martyr's family that these ministers and the Chief of Staff always keep you in their thoughts. I also want to thank General Amiri for tracking my daily directives regarding your needs. That is why when one of our brothers was dissatisfied, I told General Amiri not to leave the Arg until his problem was completely solved. If someone does not answer you in the Arg, let me know and come directly to my office; the gate of the Arg is the gate of the people of Afghanistan.

This is not a monarchy where we live behind closed doors. I am the first servant of Afghanistan. If the nation does not exist, what meaning does the Afghan state hold? The state was established to look after the nation, protect its security, and take responsibility for its peace, which Inshallah is being realized. This program was initially planned for 9 months, but today, Mr. Qayoumi, the acting Minister of Finance, gave me the good news that we will implement this program for a full year in Kabul. Instead of nine months, we have expanded it to twelve months.

Kabul is the first step because the necessary statistics, data, and distribution systems are established here. All designated stores will honor your coupons on time without ever asking you for a bribe; this is our commitment. Therefore, my request is that every martyr's family must be biometrically registered so that you can simply present your card and receive your coupon within a few minutes. This will lay the groundwork for all security and defense forces' martyrs across Afghanistan. My promise is that we will search for other avenues of cost-saving to make this program nationwide and transform it into a permanent national agenda. I request Mr. Ayubi and our colleagues at the State Ministry for Martyrs and Disabled Affairs to provide foundational cooperation in this sector.

Preservation and Protection of National Forces

The national forces of Afghanistan are the guardians of Afghanistan. Anyone who looks down upon these forces looks down upon the people of Afghanistan, and the people of Afghanistan will never accept humiliation. To anyone who thinks that peace will come at the cost of damaging the national forces of Afghanistan, I say clearly: as long as there is a single drop of blood left in my body, I will protect, nurture, and preserve the national forces of Afghanistan!

There is no doubt that the people of Afghanistan want peace; peace is more vital to us than water, but it must be a sustainable peace, a permanent peace, a peace in which our dignity is preserved. I have previously seen those historical films where the national forces of Afghanistan were looked down upon with contempt. What was the result? The destruction of Afghanistan! Do you want our tanks and our airplanes to be sold once again to neighbors as scrap metal? Which Afghan accepts that these forces, built with their own blood and resources, should be liquidated as spare parts in other countries? No Afghan accepts this, we do not accept it, and we will never accept such humiliation!

Prudence in Negotiating a Dignified Peace

Political peace is necessary. It is achieved through prudence, intellect, and logic. You remember the day I declared the ceasefire, people were trembling. Some were so terrified that they fled abroad so that this action would not be associated with them.

Do you remember, Chief of Staff? I thank the Chief of Staff and Mr. Stanikzai, who at that time said that this is exactly the pulse of the nation, and Inshallah nothing bad will happen. So we want that kind of ceasefire. We want a permanent peace where the dignity of all Afghans is preserved—not a peace where one Afghan has dignity and another does not. Our national unity is the pathway to everything; through unity and agreement, every task will succeed and we will reach our goal.

Once again, I thank you for your presence, and it is my hope that the commencement of this coupon program mitigates a portion of the daily pain you feel. This can in no way replace the loved ones who have departed, but it proves to you that the government, the nation, and particularly the families of our heroes who sacrificed for the prosperity, dignity, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of this country are in our thoughts daily. Inshallah, our attention toward you will increase day by day.

Long live Afghanistan!