Security, Justice, Elections, and Economic Growth: Priorities for Afghanistan’s Future

(Press Conference on Elections and Economic Development - ARG)

Keypoints:

• Honoring Sacrifice – Tribute to security forces and martyrs for their courage, volunteerism.
• Judicial Reform – Strengthening courts, fighting corruption, protecting women and children.
• Electoral Reform – Ensuring transparent, credible elections and functional commissions.
• Economic Growth – Expanding regional transit, energy, water, agriculture, investment.
• Budget & Finance – Improving revenue, efficient development spending, reducing aid dependency.
• Regional Cooperation – Partnering with neighbors, international allies for trade, development.
• Counterterrorism & Peace – Rejecting terrorism, supporting negotiations with compliant groups.
• Security & Unity – Coordinating army, police, intelligence, ensuring public trust.
• Stability & Reform – Balancing continuity with legal, political, economic transformation.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Distinguished journalists, sisters and brothers, good afternoon. Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of God.

First and foremost, I once again pray for the eternal peace of our martyrs and the swift recovery of our wounded. To ensure the superior medical treatment of the members of our National Army, it is the first time that the new Procurement Law has been implemented, where the quality of medicine was prioritized over its price. It is our hope that, through a highly transparent process, effective medicine is placed at the disposal of our National Army so that our wounded may, God willing, recover as soon as possible. Furthermore, the procurement process for the National Police is currently under review, and once a decision is finalized, the same standard will be applied.

The Constitutional Framework and the Balance of Power

Among the primary honors of Afghanistan is our Constitution, which has delineated our system as a democratic one. Consequently, the consolidation of democratic institutions is the duty of the State, as the President's first obligation under the Constitution is the Rule of Law. Strengthening the system requires comprehensive measures: first, maintaining the equilibrium between the three branches—the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. The second necessity is comprehensive action for the Freedom of Expression, which is recognized globally today as the "Fourth Estate" of democracy. From the perspective of our values, the role of our esteemed Ulema and all spiritual classes is a fundamental and necessary principle in maintaining this balance.

Reflections on 1394: The Year of Survival

In the past year, our security forces secured the survival of this soil. We and future generations will remain eternally indebted to this sacrifice; for the central issue last year was our very survival. The imposed war forced upon us necessitated comprehensive measures. I wish to once again extend my heartfelt gratitude to our security and defense forces, all of whom are volunteers. It was no easy task. I shared with you all at the beginning that this year would be the Year of Survival, and by the grace of God and the blessing of their sacrifice, the survival of Afghanistan has been secured.

The Pillars of Reform: Judiciary and Economy

Alongside this, today I wish to focus on two principles: the Judiciary and the Economy. With the appointment of the Honorable Chief Justice, the reforms of our judicial system have been undertaken comprehensively. I must state that it is a point of great pride for me that the Chief Justice and I are fully aligned on these reforms, and I stand in firm support of his initiatives. Of course, these reforms are predicated on the independence of the Judiciary, yet the Judiciary plays a vital role in bringing security and, specifically, stability.

You have observed that the Chief Justice has rotated all judges across the 34 provinces in recent weeks. He has secured a specific pledge from these judges to stand against corruption and ensure justice, for this matter is of paramount importance. My suggestion is that you, the journalists, engage closely with the Chief Justice to listen to his detailed measures; they are practical, they are sophisticated, and most importantly, they are principled. For example, a specialized tribunal has been established within the judiciary to combat violence against women and children, and the number of judicial benches has increased from six to eight. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the Wolesi Jirga for granting a vote of confidence to Mr. Ahadi as a justice of the Supreme Court and for confirming all proposed members of the Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of the Constitution. Both actions are significant steps toward the consolidation of justice and the Rule of Law.

Electoral Reform: Establishing a Foundation of Trust

In the realm of elections, we have taken a major stride. Both Dr. Abdullah and I were of the opinion that reforms in the electoral system and methodology are essential to ensure that elections for the Wolesi Jirga and District Councils are conducted with success and transparency. Specifically, we aim to lay the foundation of transparency for the Presidential election and all future elections so that the people may see the results of their votes promptly and in a manner that is fundamentally acceptable to them.

The Reform Committee commenced and concluded its work successfully. Their detailed report has been shared with us. In the first phase, decrees were issued to advance the process based on their findings. They concluded their work last week, and their proposals are under fundamental and comprehensive discussion. Soon, God willing, we will take practical steps toward deciding on the alternatives they presented and their subsequent execution. The Selection Committee, which was one of the proposals, began its work last week to ensure that the Election and Complaints Commissions receive new members.

I am pleased to share this message with the nation and specifically with you: the State is prepared for elections. The elections will take place between summer and autumn. As you are aware, determining the exact date is the duty of the Election Commission, but the State is ready. Provided a stable political environment exists, the elections will be held between summer and autumn, God willing.

Legislation and the Legislative Process

The Constitution has determined a comprehensive framework for governance, but it repeatedly mentions that various matters must be conducted "based on the law." Therefore, secondary laws are essential. Since the start of my tenure, our emphasis has been on drafting necessary laws and submitting them to the National Assembly. In areas of urgent necessity during the parliamentary recess, I utilized legislative decrees according to constitutional principles. One reason for this was that the National Assembly moved somewhat slowly in this regard. It is my hope they hear the demand of the Afghan people: legislation is one of the primary and principled duties of the National Assembly. Under the Constitution, the Assembly has the right to reject legislative decrees as they represent the nation. However, until the final stages of the process between both houses are completed, a decree remains in force.

While I thanked the Wolesi Jirga earlier, I also want to thank the Meshrano Jirga for their comprehensive view on the decrees. I have a "friendly grievance" with the Wolesi Jirga: do not reject everything at once. If there is a problem with a legislative decree, propose amendments. If you do not deem the objective of the law necessary, this must become a nationwide debate initiated by you, the journalists. Can we leave the Constitution incomplete, or is there a need for secondary and tertiary laws to complete the body of the Rule of Law?

Consider Nepal: when earthquakes struck there and in Afghanistan, SAARC could not provide regional assistance because the Afghan National Assembly had not yet reviewed or passed the relevant draft. Laws affect people’s lives. Natural disasters are a threat to us and all our neighbors. I hope in such matters—which are entirely non-political—we can move past friction and take the necessary actions to progress together.

As the members of the Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga head toward winter recess, I find it necessary to meet with all members based on their zones to hear their views again, so that the opinions of the people's representatives are integrated into our development, security, and reform plans. The necessity of coordination between the branches is always essential.

The Economy: Afghanistan as the Regional Roundabout

Regarding the economy, I wish to share several points: First, Afghanistan's greatest asset and capital is our geographic location. A few days ago, I presented the results of the TAPI project; this is but one example. Our objective is to serve as the "Four-way" (Crossroads) of the region, as we were before the era of European colonialism. We must transition away from a state of reliance on only one or two neighboring countries. To this end, serious steps have been taken to diversify Afghanistan’s transit.

In the month of Hamal, God willing, the Turkmenistan railway will reach the port of Aqina. Once this line is connected, Afghan goods will reach Europe via Azerbaijan and Turkey, and simultaneously, we will be connected directly with Kazakhstan. Our access to wheat and flour—crucial commodities—will no longer be tethered to a single source. Furthermore, in the month of Hamal, an oil pipeline from Turkmenistan will be connected at Aqina port. This will fundamentally change our import landscape for fuel and gas.

Additionally, during the visit of Prime Minister Modi, we heard that India, Iran, and Afghanistan have performed fundamental work on the Chabahar port. This will connect us to the Gulf, and day by day, our transit will expand. I will share further steps regarding China, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan at an appropriate time.

Fiscal Discipline and Budget Capacity

Our fundamental problem remains our reliance on foreign aid. Until a sustainable economy is created, we will remain dependent. I wish to congratulate the Ministry of Finance: for the first time in years, our revenue target has not only been met but exceeded. Our goal was 114 billion AFN; we achieved 120.75 billion AFN. This is not just about money; it is about credibility. In a difficult "Year of Survival," we were able to provide direction to our revenues.

One of our basic hurdles was the lack of capacity to utilize the development budget. For ten years, funds were available, but we failed to spend them. This is not unique to us; at least a hundred countries struggle with this. Consequently, from procurement to negotiations with the private sector and the design of major projects, we have put everything under comprehensive review. We have established the High Economic Council to ensure effective and transparent spending.

Energy, Water, and Agriculture

My travels to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey had two dimensions. First, to learn how these nations—specifically Azerbaijan and Turkey—transformed their economies and utilized their development budgets. Turkey, which faced 800% inflation fourteen years ago, is now aiming to be among the world's largest economies. I brought an economic delegation so we could have living examples before us. We Afghans are innovative; when we see a clear methodology, we make our actions more effective.

The second dimension was to secure investment and participation in large-scale projects. Our focus now is on Power and Water. Afghanistan has an estimated capacity of 316,000 MW of electricity—23,000 MW from water, 73,000 MW from wind, and the rest from solar. Our policy is to transform Afghanistan into a Regional Energy Hub.

Regarding water, we have plenty, but it hasn't been used effectively; instead, we suffer hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from floods. In future talks, I will share our essential projects for water regulation. In agriculture, our message to farmers is clear: agriculture is the foundation of life for the majority of our people. Our goal is to move from being an importer of agricultural products to being self-sufficient, and eventually, an exporter.

Questions and Answers

Journalist: Regarding the recent visit of General Raheel Sharif from Pakistan and the subsequent statement that those Taliban who do not join talks should be crushed—do you see sincerity here? And how effective will the four-nation meeting (Afghanistan, Pakistan, US, China) be?

President Ghani: I will answer the second question first. The objective of the four-nation group is to create a Roadmap for sustainable peace as quickly as possible. But to reach peace, we must have clarity on the dimensions of the war. This is a multi-dimensional war involving regional and global terrorists. Second, regional relations must be clearly diagnosed.

The visit of the Pakistani Chief of Staff was a significant step. In our statements, a clear distinction was made: those who accept peace should be offered a political framework, and those who do not will no longer find sanctuary. This is a major step—a clear separation between those who want to live in the embrace of their homeland and those who choose terrorism. We await further actions, but their statement was a fulfillment of a pledge.

Journalist: What is on the table for peace talks? Is a ceasefire a priority? And which groups can Pakistan actually bring to the table given the Taliban's internal divisions?

President Ghani: It is clear that various groups exist within the Taliban. Some will join peace through one route, some through others. All these doors are part of the framework for the Roadmap. The fundamental issue is a choice: peace or terrorism. There is no third option. In the framework of four-party cooperation, there will be no tolerance for terrorism. There is an agreement on the use of legitimate force against groups that reject peace.

Journalist: Regarding the threat of Daesh (ISIS) in the east—the government seems silent. Also, investors struggle with land availability, and we have five years to support domestic production under WTO rules. Do we have the capacity?

President Ghani: I hope you are not offended, but in the last two days, nearly 160 members of Daesh were killed. If you call this silence, what do you call a "fist"? The "fist" of the State is on the mouth of Daesh. At the Munich Conference, I was the first to raise the threat of Daesh globally, describing it as "Version 5" compared to Al-Qaeda's "Version 1." Today, there is a regional and global consensus on Daesh.

Regarding the WTO, five years is plenty of time if one has the will. Sher Shah Suri laid the entire foundation of India in five years. Regarding investment, we have "money" but lack "capital." Money comes and goes through trade; capital creates jobs and roots. We are working to convince traders to become investors. Regarding land, the Land Authority is working on a plan to facilitate access for investors.

Journalist: How do you view 2015 for the National Unity Government? And regarding the rejection of your decrees by Parliament—who is at fault?

President Ghani: I do not wish to focus on "fault." My message is one of cooperation and unity. The Constitution requires the balance of three powers. Regarding 2015, you be the judge. Was it the Year of Survival or not? Did our security forces move from semi-mobile to fully mobile? Did we protect the honor of the motherland? These are the questions you must answer.

Furthermore, the world's commitment to Afghanistan was initially only for one year. President Obama's plan was to reduce troops to 600 by the end of 2015. You judge whether your leadership was able to convince one of the world's most deliberate figures that Afghanistan is worth continued cooperation. 40 nations recommitted. We need an equilibrium between "Continuity" and "Transformation." In the past, when transformation was too fast, the result was not continuity. Our people want the continuity of the system, but without transformation, they will suffer.

Journalist: Since Parliament rejected the decree on elections, on what basis is the Selection Committee working?

President Ghani: The law stands. Until a new law is signed by me, the current law remains in force. The Selection Committee has a basis in the Constitution and can proceed with its work. A mechanism is necessary regardless. Members of the Wolesi Jirga, like all Afghans, want stability. They are politicians; they want to know the path to the elections where they will be candidates. So, we move forward.

Thank you.