Resilience, Responsibility, and National Unity: State's Response to the Kunduz Crisis

(Press Conference on the Recovery of Kunduz - Kabul, ARG)

Keypoints: 

• The Responsible State: Protecting citizens through moral restraint and legal accountability.
• Unified Command: Institutionalizing security under a single, synchronized leadership.
• Sovereignty of the Map: Defending every inch of national territory as a constitutional duty.
• Constitutional Legitimacy: Anchoring all state actions within the legal framework of the Republic.
• Narrative Defense: Neutralizing enemy propaganda by exposing strategic deceptions and lies.
• Professionalism over Nepotism: Ending political interference to build a merit-based military.
• Connectivity as Security: Using regional projects like TAPI to transform war zones into trade hubs.
• Strategic Patience: Prioritizing systemic integrity and human life over reckless victories.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 

Dear sisters and brothers,

I salute the pure souls of the martyrs of freedom and the defense of our homeland. We are pleased that today, Kunduz and the people of Afghanistan began their day with good news. I hope that the atmosphere of doubt and hesitation regarding the decision-making capacity and competence of our security and defense forces has now been dispelled.

Our security and defense officials executed the clearance operation of Kunduz successfully from 10:00 PM last night until 4:00 AM this morning, and throughout the day. The greatest blessing was that we suffered no martyrs in this specific operation. This mission was managed with total proficiency by General Murad Ali Khan, General Abdul Hamid, and General Zamari. Last night, the National Security Council (NSC) held a video conference with them, and this morning, we received the second report. The entire NSC speaks with one voice in expressing gratitude to our forces.

At the beginning of the year, I shared with you that this would be the most difficult year of our national test. Unfortunately, that prediction was correct, but fortunately, our forces—based on our strategic analysis—were able to confront a war that was imposed upon us and characterized by shifting tactics.

Do not forget: in the past six months, your forces have been fighting in 10 to 13 provinces simultaneously. They have repelled some of the most significant assaults in the last fourteen years. While we faced problems and learned lessons that require meticulous attention, the fundamental picture must be clear: today, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are the source of hope for our people and the world. They have proven to our enemies that they possess the motivation, the will, and the capacity to prevail.

However, today’s good news must not lead to negligence; the war continues. Our objective is not to defend just one point, but the entire map of Afghanistan. Our forces are ready to sacrifice for every inch of this soil, and for that, they deserve our gratitude.

Who are the enemies of Afghanistan? Anyone who disregards the life, security, property, and dignity of our people—regardless of the name they call themselves—is an enemy. We have taken a stand against barbarism, and against those who target mosques, scholars, women, and children. Under Islam, which is our political raison d'être, the State is religiously obligated to defend the people. This is a Sharia mandate we are fulfilling.

The Three Commissions of Accountability

Regarding the events that occurred, I have tasked three high-level commissions:

1. The Security Commission: Already operational in Kunduz, ensuring all routes are controlled and preventing "irresponsible individuals" from entering. The rule of law must be established through a clear, institutional position.

2. The Civilian Commission: Led by Mr. Popal, this team is conducting an urgent assessment of damages and documenting destruction to facilitate the return of the displaced.

3. The Investigative Commission: A state that believes in the law cannot execute summary justice (trial by fire). Therefore, any official who committed negligence or treason must have their actions proven through the legal process of Afghanistan.

We have witnessed both heroism and cowardice. Those who were appointed through nepotism (wasita) and political influence were, unfortunately, the first to flee. Conversely, those who joined as volunteers, based on their own grit, are the ones who sacrificed. We will institutionalize a culture of appreciation; this morning, I approved the extraordinary promotion of a brave Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

I want to emphasize the necessity of balance. During an imposed war, panic and the creation of distrust only serve the enemy. We must understand that we are all in one boat. There is a story from the time of Prophet Noah (PBUH) about a man who began to drill a hole in the boat. When asked why, he replied, "I am only drilling into my own section!"

In our case, no one benefits from a vacuum of credibility. I believe in freedom of expression, but it must exist within the framework of national interest. I ask our media to define their national responsibility so that our collective interests are protected.

Questions and Answers

Journalist: The fall of Kunduz remains a mystery to the people. How can one or two hundred Taliban fighters cause a major city to fall when there were thousands of troops stationed there? Furthermore, we have seen commissions before—like in Jalrez—that yielded no results. How can we trust this one? Also, the Interior Minister and NDS Chief reportedly said the NSC blocked operations in 27 locations. Why?

President Ghani: When a Lieutenant General is appointed to manage Kunduz, is that a sign of giving authority or taking it away? When General Murad Ali Khan goes to lead the fight, there is a total misunderstanding of the rules and procedures. I personally called the Speaker of Parliament from the NSC meeting and spoke with Engineer Nabil and the Minister of Interior. The role of the NSC is to authorize. No unit, from a company to a corps, needs separate permission for every operation once authorized. If we were blocking operations, why would we be conducting them repeatedly in Kunduz?

Regarding your second point: an authorized commission will provide the answers, and the results will be published. I do not believe in summary trials (Sahrayi trials). We cannot judge based on rumors or rivalry. If we move to summary justice, we undermine the very freedom of speech we protect. You have not seen a single instance where we questioned freedom of expression; we only asked for responsibility. Regarding Jalrez, action was taken. The claim that "nothing happens" is a narrative we must set aside. If that were the case, the state would have collapsed 18 months ago as many predicted.

Journalist (Pashto): You mentioned the operation was authorized, but when it finally began at night, it took only seven hours to clear the city. Why did it not start sooner, since reinforcements had already arrived?

President Ghani (Pashto): Look, we conducted the operation with zero casualties. Do you agree? If we had attacked before all forces were in place, we would have suffered heavy losses. First, the weather in Parwan and Jalalabad was bad; planes could not fly from Kabul. If we do not transport our Special Forces and Commandos by air, their energy is depleted on the road. Second, when ground forces arrived, they met obstacles, and the situation in Baghlan required attention—if that road had remained closed, the entire north would have been at risk. So, we moved forces to Mazar and flew them from there to Kunduz, then came in from behind the enemy. We must allow generals to be generals. General Murad Ali Khan and General Abdul Hamid have immense experience. We left the judgment to them, and the result was a successful operation. We must not conduct operations under purely political pressure at the cost of our soldiers' lives.

Journalist: Many, from Parliament to Jihadi commanders, claim people inside the government were involved in the fall of Kunduz. What is your response? Who is responsible?

President Ghani: First, anyone who has documents, please share them. I have personally instructed the NDS Chief to receive any documents from political or Jihadi figures. Second, share them with the commission. Every document will be reviewed. But my answer remains: do not drag Afghanistan toward summary justice. Do not create an atmosphere of total distrust where the right hand does not trust the left. Our primary asset is belief and trust.

Journalist: When will the commissions start? And are those arrested officials from Kunduz or elsewhere?

President Ghani: The commission started yesterday. They have secured routes and documented the atrocities and damages on film, which can be shared with you. The second commission under Mr. Popal started today. The third commission will be appointed Saturday. Those arrested were detained in Mazar-e-Sharif and are being moved to Kabul for investigation. Further steps depend on the results of those investigations.

Journalist: Mr. Stanekzai was not confirmed by Parliament as Defense Minister, yet he has served as "Acting" for months. Why is there no confirmed "Minister of War" during this peak conflict? Also, regarding the BSA (Security Agreement) with the US—has it been implemented, and what is the impact?

President Ghani: The law on "acting" officials was amended via legislative decree; for the security sector, the two-month limit does not apply under current conditions. Mr. Stanekzai has our full confidence, and his management has been successful. I ask the people not to question the security team now.

Regarding the BSA: we signed it on day one. Sisters and brothers, do you think we have the capacity to even pay for the fuel of our army and police for one month? Our partnerships secured funding through 2017. President Obama, following Dr. Abdullah’s visit, requested and received Congressional approval for 2017 funding. My speech to Congress solidified this cooperation. Training, equipment, and daily cooperation are ongoing. Without this, we would have massive challenges. Compare our security performance to Yemen, Libya, or Iraq; the patriotism of our children and these partnerships allow our institutions to defend the people.

Journalist: What lessons have been learned to prevent this from happening again?

President Ghani: First, the war is evolving; we face a cunning and skilled enemy. Second, this war is managed by a trans-regional terrorist network. As I said in Ufa [Russia], terrorists are coming from your countries—Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and particularly Pakistan. They want to turn Afghanistan into a battlefield.

Lessons learned:

1. Coordination: Information, decision-making, and action must form a "virtuous chain."

2. The Political Atmosphere: When the atmosphere becomes clouded with rumors and calls to "flee," it weakens morale. Standing behind our forces must be a national consensus.

3. Professionalism: We must purge those imposed on the forces through nepotism (wasita). If we want to commit "national suicide," the quickest way is to allow corruption and interference in our security forces.

Journalist: The fall of Kunduz has caused some—like John McCain—to doubt ANDSF's capabilities and suggest the US reconsider the withdrawal timeline. Is the government still willing to talk peace with the Taliban after this?

President Ghani: Peace has dimensions. The fundamental peace is between the states of Afghanistan and Pakistan. As long as sanctuaries exist, peace between the two states does not exist. The risk of terrorism threatens the entire region; Yemen, Iraq, and Syria are living examples.

Regarding citizens: a state can never close the door to peace. Look at the UK and Ireland. War has a price—look at the damage of just three days in Kunduz. If the North had been peaceful this year, it would have been the hub of regional economic development. This is what they want to prevent. Our enemy is poverty; 36% of our people live below the line. We need peace, but it must be an honorable peace within the framework of our laws.

We are investing in our forces because our independence and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. At the same time, we are pioneers of regional cooperation. I am pleased that the President of Turkmenistan has decided that the TAPI project is moving from paper to reality. This brings credibility and creates a sense of regional partnership. Everything is connected.

Good night and thank you.