The Heart of Asia Strategy: Pursuing Regional Connectivity and Ending the Undeclared War

(Press Conference after the 5th Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process Ministerial Conference, Islamabad)

Keypoints: 

• Regional Consensus: Agreement from 40 nations to support Afghan peace and stability.
• Undeclared War: Defined as 14-year conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• State-to-State Relations: Urged Pakistan to end proxy use and respect Afghan Constitution.
• Economic Connectivity: Advanced TAPI gas pipeline and CASA-1000 power project.
• Transit Diversification: Develop Chabahar Port and China railways to bypass bottlenecks.
• Refugee Diplomacy: Hosting 500,000 Pakistani refugees; seeking dignified return for Afghans abroad.
• Institutional Independence: No foreign interference in Afghan government appointments.
• Counter-Terrorism Verification: Regional mechanism to track states fighting or funding terror.

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

Distinguished journalists, brothers, and sisters: First and foremost, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs in Kandahar and pray for the swift recovery of the wounded. Yesterday, Mr. Stanikzai traveled to Kandahar for a detailed assessment, and I will be meeting with Kandahar's leaders after this session. This incident itself demonstrates how thirsty we are for peace and stability. Our blood is shed every day, and this must stop. Our martyrdom and sacrifices are for this land and the commands of Allah, but the nation yearns for peace. We want the stability that every citizen demands to arrive as soon as possible.

Yesterday was International Human Rights Day. While we emphasize its importance, we also call the world’s attention to the atrocities still being committed against our people. We honor the sacrifices of recent decades, especially this year. The implementation of human rights is the desire of the entire Afghan nation. We hope that by strengthening the rule of law, we can enjoy our rights and fulfill our obligations, particularly those outlined in the second chapter of the Constitution.

On Wednesday, the Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process conference took place. Our Foreign Minister and Deputy Minister co-led this conference, and I want to thank the entire team that accompanied me to Islamabad. Afghanistan’s primary demand was met: the creation of an international and regional consensus for Afghanistan’s peace and stability. This is a major intellectual step forward. Our focus now will be on turning this conceptual achievement into practical actions to realize our goal of a stable, independent, and prosperous Afghanistan. Our team secured a consensus from 40 countries on a very important declaration, which has been distributed to you. I hope our journalists and thinkers read it carefully and engage in discussions on how this framework can be translated into action.

I am also grateful that our friend, India, has accepted to host next year’s conference. India's hosting will help turn our regional cooperation demands into reality. A key point agreed upon by the 40 nations is the creation of a regional framework for counter-terrorism. Today, terrorism is not just our threat; it is a threat to the region and the world. After recent global events, the analysis we shared at the start of the National Unity Government is now being taken seriously. At the time, there was skepticism—some thought we were just trying to attract extra aid. Now, the entire world validates our framework regarding the risks of terrorism.

I must also thank our allies who have consistently funded, trained, and supported our security and defense forces. Through the Resolute Support Mission and the decisions of President Obama and European leaders, a clear message has been sent to the region: the world hears our righteous message and stands with us.

Furthermore, we demonstrated that Afghanistan is rapidly building cooperation with Central Asia. The day after tomorrow, the foundation stone for the TAPI project—which we have awaited for over a decade—will be laid. Turkmenistan has taken extensive steps to strengthen Afghanistan’s economy. Our cooperation with China has also expanded fundamentally. The lifting of sanctions on Iran, the joint Indo-Iranian cooperation on Chabahar Port, and our partnership with Italy to connect a railway from Islam Qala to Herat are all foundational points that have drawn the world's attention.

Because we are at the Heart of Asia, we can connect to every side. Regrettably, our connectivity with South Asia had remained only in words. We made it clear that the Afghan people and economy cannot wait; urgent action must be taken.

On the sidelines in Islamabad, I held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of India, Iran, and China, as well as bilateral and trilateral meetings with Pakistan and the United States. A consistent demand of our people is that the world’s great powers participate in our fundamental discussions with Pakistan. Through these trilateral and quadrilateral mechanisms (US-China-Afghan-Pak), we can clearly define cooperation and identify interference when it occurs.

For many years—fourteen years, or more—the Pakistani state would not explicitly speak about the national sovereignty or the legitimacy of the Afghan state. In this declaration, these points are clearly stated. This doesn’t mean Afghanistan "needs" someone else to validate its sovereignty; it means that when this is acknowledged, practical steps must follow to stop interveners. I have told you many times: an undeclared war has existed between us for over 14 years. To solve this, Pakistan’s unconditional recognition of our state and constitution was necessary, and it has happened. Some thinkers may disagree, but national interests are achieved through negotiations. As Commander-in-Chief, my first duty is to ensure our soldiers do not lose their lives needlessly, while also ensuring the integrity of our land and national unity.

The peace we seek is a just, lasting, and honorable peace within the framework of our Constitution. We have sacrificed enough. Our people’s patience is exhausted; they want the right to breathe, to live, and to prosper. This is not a gift from others; it is a right based on human rights and international law.

Finally, Pakistan has committed to working with us toward these goals. In the coming weeks, we will see practical steps. Most significantly, Pakistan has finally accepted that if certain groups refuse to lay down their arms, they will jointly act against them using all means, including force. We embrace those who accept peace, but those who serve foreign interests must know that legitimate force will be used against them.

Questions & Answers

Journalist: Regarding the split within the Taliban and Pakistan's role, how optimistic are you that this process will yield results this time?

President Ghani: The Taliban are not a unified movement; they are various groups. The time for them to choose has come. Those who want peace should come forward. This process will not take years; it is a matter of weeks and months. Negotiations will begin seriously in the coming weeks.

Journalist: Regarding the resignation of Mr. Nabil (NDS Chief), was it personal or was there pressure within the system?

President Ghani: I appointed Mr. Nabil, and the Parliament approved it. Under Article 64 of the Constitution, the President has the authority to appoint and accept resignations. Mr. Nabil resigned, and I accepted it. Personnel changes are normal in any system. The National Directorate of Security (NDS) is a national, professional, and non-political institution. I thank Mr. Nabil for his service, especially in bringing NDS technology into the 21st century.

Journalist: There are rumors that Pakistan handed over a "Non-Paper" demanding the removal of "anti-Pakistan" officials like Mr. Nabil. Is his removal linked to this?

President Ghani: If anyone thinks the President of Afghanistan or the Security Council would allow anyone to dictate who stays in our security institutions, they should prepare for a hundred years of war. Such claims border on national treason. No foreign country will ever be allowed to interfere in our internal appointments. I am not a man of Nanawatai (surrender/pleading), nor was this team built to bow to others. I act according to the powers granted to me by the Constitution.

Journalist (Radio Killid): Will the peace talks involve power-sharing? Which Taliban groups are you talking to?

President Ghani: The fundamental distinction is between those who want peace and those who don’t. Those who renounce violence must accept the Constitution. Specifics will emerge during negotiations, and the principled position of the Afghan people will be maintained.

Journalist (Noorin TV): You are trusting Pakistan again after 14 years of interference. What is the guarantee they won't just continue to equip and fund terrorists?

President Ghani: In relations between states, the issue is not "trust," it is "interests." Can the war in Afghanistan end without a positive role from Pakistan? If we see Pakistan as a major factor in our instability, we need three things to solve this: international consensus, regional consensus, and national consensus. We must align these. We should never have complete trust nor complete mistrust; we must find the middle ground where our interests are secured.

Our real enemy is poverty. Every Afghan youth wants a job; every Afghan woman wants security. If the costs of one year of war were spent on our economy, it would stand this country on its feet. We must negotiate with self-belief and reliance on God to reach a point where we can live in harmony.

Thank you very much.