Peace, Elections, and Economic Self-Reliance: Path Toward Stability and Regional Trade Integration

• National unity & identity: Ethnic cohesion and shared historical pride
• Peace & elections: 2019 key year for peace and fair elections
• Governance & legitimacy: Democracy, constitution, accountability
• Economic development: Regional trade and transit hub vision
• Security forces: Sacrifices for stability and reconstruction
• Agriculture & water: Farming, irrigation, water security focus
• Social justice: Poverty reduction and ending hunger
• History & independence: 100 years independence, heritage revival
• Regional ties: Cooperation and regional connectivity through Afghanistan

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

Respected Mr. Muslimyar, Engineer Sahib, Mrs. Ghazanfar, esteemed members of the cabinet, elders, sisters, officials of the security and defense forces of Afghanistan, respected custodians of the Shrine of the King of Saints (Shah-e-Awliya), dear children, youth, scholars, citizens of Mazar-i-Sharif, and dear compatriots: First of all, I offer you the greeting of the leader of humanity, peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Plant a sapling in your compatriot's garden, And name this sapling goodness. Respected and dear compatriots, may the New Year be blessed! May God make this year a year of peace, equality, and prosperity. Dear compatriots! I congratulate everyone on the New Year, which I hope will be a year of peace, healthy elections, and public welfare for the people of Afghanistan. Dear compatriots! By the blessing of Mazar-i-Sharif and the prayers of the King of Saints, God willing, the solar hijri year 1398 will be a year of peace, prosperity, and useful and transparent elections.

The Significance of Mazar-i-Sharif and Balkh

Mazar-i-Sharif did not earn the title of "Sharif" (the Noble) easily. Why do we call Mazar-i-Sharif noble? First: It is by the blessing of the shrine of the King of Saints, the Lion of God, Hazrat Ali (K). Second: Our great saints, scholars, and sufis have maintained Balkh and Mazar as a center of thought, knowledge, and mysticism. Balkh has always been a center of knowledge and will shine again, God willing. Third: Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi is today a poet whose books are seen and read more than those of any other poet, even in the English language. Fourth: It is the special nobility of the people of Balkh that today citizens from all 34 provinces of Afghanistan live together here within the framework of national unity. Congratulations to the national unity of Balkh. Fifth: It is because of the traders and investors of Balkh and all of Afghanistan that economic momentum is created in Balkh, doubling its nobility. Balkh-e-Bami (the Radiant Balkh) was the cradle of civilizations. In all likelihood, one of the first centers where irrigation was established was Balkh. Balkh has always shone brightly in history, especially during the Abbasid era. Recent studies show that the number of schools in Balkh was no less than those in Baghdad.

Strategic Vision for Balkh and Regional Trade

What is my vision for Balkh? It is very simple, sisters and brothers: reviving the cradle of Balkh-e-Bami, strengthening the nobility of Mazar-i-Sharif, and transforming it into a massive commercial gateway to Central Asia and China. In the year 1398, God willing, you will witness the inauguration of the Mazar-i-Sharif–Shanghai corridor. This is not just by land; for the first time, a large portion of Afghanistan's exports will be shipped by water via the borders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan directly to China. Do not forget that our sisters carry the legacy of Rabia Balkhi, and it will always shine. The year 1398 holds distinct characteristics, and in this regard, I want to specifically thank the hardworking Governor of Balkh, Mr. Rahguzar. Governor Sahib, you were my special representative, you are, and you will remain so. Maintain the honor of Balkh with all your strength, firmness, and dignity. General Sahib Ahmadzai and all security officials, I express my gratitude for your daily bravery and soldierly service.

The Centennial of Independence

What are the characteristics of the year 1398? First: The year 1398 is the year of the centennial of Afghanistan's independence. In honor of that national hero and noble man of Afghanistan, Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, all historical structures of his era will be restored. You will witness the revival of Darul Aman Palace, Paghman Palaces, Tajbeg Palace, and all other palaces that existed during his time. However, my call to all the people of Afghanistan is to celebrate the centennial year of independence as a symbol of national unity across all segments and in all provinces of Afghanistan.

Presidential Elections and Democratic Principles

Second: The year 1398 is the year of the presidential election. In the past, people feared the changing of kings; but today, based on the transparent will of the people, the highest office of the country, which is the presidency of Afghanistan, is chosen. The era of mastership has passed, and it is now the era of national service. My directive to all our security and defense forces and civil administrations is to remain impartial in the elections. The Ulema Council of Afghanistan, Mr. Kashaf, and representatives of the private sector of Afghanistan are present. We discuss the core issues of the country freely so that the people of Afghanistan can decide their own future through their free will. Our request to the respected Election Commission was to conduct the elections on the selected date; however, they are independent, and they announced their decision last night. We respect the decision of the Independent Commission; but under no circumstances will any further delay of the date be acceptable to us.

The Peace Process and the Role of Elections

God willing, 1398 will be the year of peace. Peace is more vital to every Afghan than oxygen. But the point is that we want a sustainable peace, not a peace that smells of blood. Elections and peace are mutually reinforcing and inseparable. This means that through elections, the nation grants authority and holds its future leadership accountable for how they negotiate peace and bring it to a conclusion. Here, it will remain my historical honor that I initiated the peace process and, for the first time in 40 years of Afghanistan's history, implemented a ceasefire. I pride myself on our security and defense forces who, upon a single command, observed the ceasefire across the whole of Afghanistan. Minister Sahib of Defense and Minister Sahib of Interior, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! We are proud of all our security and defense forces. Our security and defense forces are the light of our eyes; anyone who looks at them with hostility looks at the people of Afghanistan with hostility. Do you think someone fights just for 15,000 or 30,000 Afghanis? They are the true children of this homeland. These are soldiers, these are heroes, and we are proud of them.

Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Water Management

The year 1398 will be a year of prosperity, God willing. First, we offer our gratitude to the court of God (J) that abundant snow and rain have fallen, and today the plains of Balkh, Faryab, and Badghis, which suffered from drought last year, have become vast farmlands. Minister Sahib of Agriculture and Minister Sahib of Rural Development, I specifically request your primary attention toward livestock and agriculture. This year, Balkh-e-Bami will finally witness the development of the great Qosh Tepa project and the consolidation of the Amu Darya banks, which it has awaited for years. The water of Afghanistan is our honor, and this water will be protected. Whether a Balkhi does this or that, this water will be secured!

National Unity, Economic Self-Reliance, and Poverty Alleviation

My final points focus on a simple theme: Today's Afghanistan is not yesterday's Afghanistan. Anyone who does not recognize today's Afghanistan should look at this great gathering: our sisters who are making history today, and the youth, scholars, elders, and leaders of ethnic groups who have gathered here. Today, here you see national unity, commitment, freedom, and progress. What is our goal? Self-reliance. In the next four years, Afghanistan must provide for its entire ordinary budget expenditures itself, transform from an importing country into an exporting country, and develop its vast natural resources, from water and land to minerals. God has given us everything; we need unity and a plan of action to ensure the welfare of our people. The poverty of the people of Afghanistan is unacceptable to me. I do not want to be the president of a country where there are a hundred millionaires while 40 percent of the people go to sleep hungry. Our goal must be that no Afghan woman, man, or child goes to sleep hungry, and this will be achieved through the transparent participation of all segments, women and men, in society and the government of Afghanistan.

National Security and Territorial Integrity

Third: Stability and security cannot exist without building up the strength of the security and defense forces. The role of our security and defense forces is not just warfare; it is securing stability, peace, tranquility, and development. For this reason, we specifically commemorate the martyrs of the security and defense forces. Afghanistan is no one’s gift to the Afghans; it is the result of our blood, and we will protect it with our blood.

Afghanistan as the Roundabout of Asia

When I told you a few years ago that Afghanistan would turn into the roundabout of the region, you said, "Look, he has gone mad." Now do you see whether you are turning into a roundabout or not? You saw the Lapis Lazuli route, you saw the air corridor, you saw the Chabahar route, and tomorrow you will see the Shanghai route! Have faith in yourselves; God did not create you in the heart of Asia without a purpose! When we say the Heart of Asia, should Asia have a beating heart or a heart that has failed? Asia recovers from its heart attack only when Afghanistan is stable. This moving heart connects everyone. We are a people of connection, not a people of division. I want to wish a happy Nowruz to the Republic of Uzbekistan, my dear brother Shavkat Mirziyoyev; the Republic of Turkmenistan, my dear brother Berdimuhamedov; the Republic of Tajikistan; the Islamic Republic of Iran; and also Kazakhstan. We thank their consuls and all attendees.

Preserving Cultural Ties and Constitutional Equality

We have great traditions. For 120 years, we were separated from Central Asia; but today we have the best relations with Central Asia, and we take pride in our relations with Central Asia. Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the Central Asian republics had relations for thousands of years; colonialism separated us, but today we are transforming Asia unitedly. Once again, at this sacred venue, we pray that the coming year will be a happy and peaceful year for Afghanistan, and a year of cooperation, coexistence, brotherhood, and sisterhood among all Afghans. No Afghan is inferior to any other Afghan, and no Afghan is superior to any other Afghan. The equality of Afghans is enshrined in our national covenant and the constitution, and the duty of the government in general, and the duty of the president in particular, is the implementation of the constitution. Long live Afghanistan!