Transcript of speech by the Political Deputy, Al-Haj Mullah Baradar Akhund, at video conference organized by Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful

Peace and blessing be upon his honorable Messenger:

To start, I would like to welcome all participants of the conference and am pleased that we have gathered here today to discuss and exchange views about how best to resolve problems facing our beloved homeland, Afghanistan.

Peace and its Importance:

Peace is the core necessity of every society for without it, a peaceful life and economic, educational, cultural, social and political progress are impossible.

Peace cannot be achieved with mere slogans, rather it needs determination and action. And peace is lost when a people’s right to independence is usurped.

 

Commitment of Islamic Emirate to Peace:

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has remained committed to peace from the very outset, and has always advocated dialogue as a means for conflict resolution. Here I would briefly like to highlight a few short instances that showcases this commitment by the Islamic Emirate:

Political Office in Qatar:

The leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan launched efforts aimed at resolving issues plaguing of our homeland through the Political Office established in Qatar. This initiative serves as evidence of commitment of the Islamic Emirate for peace.

Doha agreement with the United States of America:

The Islamic Emirate concluded an agreement with the United States after prolonged discussions in Doha. The agreement specifies the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan within the agreed timeline and commits the Islamic Emirate to not allowing the soil of Afghanistan be used against the security of any country. This serves as a practical basis for establishing enduring peace in Afghanistan.

Starting negotiations with intra-Afghan sides:

The Islamic Emirate launched intra-Afghan negotiations to resolve Afghan problems on the basis of the Doha agreement, and these talks are still ongoing. We hope that our prevailing homeland problems can be resolved, our people and nation can gain independence and establish an inclusive Islamic government of their choosing.

 

Six-month intra-Afghan negotiation delay:

Negotiations were meant to start on the 10^th of March 2020 as specified in the Doha agreement, but the opposite side delayed intra-Afghan dialogue for six months under various pretenses. If talks had begun on its specified date, we could have made a lot of progress by now.

This not only delayed the peace process but thousands of lives were also lost in the meantime. Civilians suffered death and injuries at the hands of the opposition. Even as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is engaged in Jihad for the freedom and independence of its people, it has simultaneously placed immense emphasis on protecting the lives and property of civilians. A few practical steps in this regard are as follow:

In accordance with the decree of the Esteemed Amir ul Mumineen:

– Setting up a special commission dedicated to the prevention of civilian casualties.

– Regular visits by delegations of Islamic Emirate to Mujahideen ranks to investigate possible civilian casualty breaches and introducing perpetrators to courts.

– Frequent delay of important operations by the Islamic Emirate due to possibility of causing civilian losses. But foreign forces and the Kabul administration on the other hand continue carrying out raids and airstrikes on civilian homes while the Kabul administration is also using heavy weaponry in civilian areas.

 

Current status of intra-Afghan negotiations:

Intra-Afghans talks began on 12^th September, progress was witnessed and procedural rules were agreed upon, a positive step towards making the process a success. It is worth repeating that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has complete readiness and genuine resolve for solving all issues through talks and dialogue.

 

Obstacles obstructing the Peace Process:

Blacklists:

The blacklist issue should have by been resolved to a larger extent by now in line with the Doha agreement because peace process and blacklists are two irreconcilable items. How is it possible that one side at the peace table is blacklisted and barred from travels while the other faces no restrictions and exercises complete freedom of movement. All leaders and delegations of the Islamic Emirate must also enjoy freedom of movement without restrictions akin to the rest of the people, which is their inherent human right under international law.

Prisoner release:

Thousands of detainees of the Islamic Emirate are still languishing in prisons. The opposite side, for the cause of peace and to bridge the divide, must release Afghans whom are Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate or are accused of having relations with the Mujahideen. With the launch of intra-Afghan negotiations, the release process of all remaining detainees should have by now been concluded in according to the Doha agreement.

It is worth remembering that the Doha agreement is the only comprehensive framework for bringing peace to Afghanistan, but the responsibility of continuation of war in Afghanistan falls on the shoulders of those whom are obstructing its implementation.

Poisonous propaganda:

From the outset of intra-Afghan talks, the leaders of the Kabul administration launched widespread poisonous anti-peace propaganda which the entire world are witnesses to. Such toxic propaganda, in reality, serves as an obstacle for the peace process.

Attacks on religious and educational centers, kidnappings, targeted killings and other crimes are planned with the help of Kabul administration intelligence and then utilized as propaganda against the Islamic Emirate. Attacks in Kabul on a hospital, education center and Kabul University, airstrikes on a mosque and Quran memorization school in Takhar, and targeting of activists and journalists are a few examples. They believe that such actions can guarantee their hold on power.

All understand that the current Kabul administration does not represent the aspirations of the Afghan people and therefore, the world must not interact with them as a representative system. For peace and security in Afghanistan, a new inclusive sovereign Islamic government must be agreed upon, without any foreign interference, that can represent our Islamic and Afghan values because only a sovereign Islamic government can guarantee comprehensive development of our homeland, Islamic justice and national unity.

 

Future Government:

The Islamic Emirate is not pursuing monopoly over power following the independence of Afghanistan, rather it seeks an inclusive Islamic government with all Afghans in our beloved homeland.

The Afghan nation has presented every type of human and material sacrifices for the past four decades for the sovereignty of our homeland and our religious and Afghan values along with the establishment of an Islamic system, and it continues to strive for this exact goal.

The future Islamic government must take the following steps to secure our higher national interests and prosperity of our people:

Service of nation and people:

Our esteemed nation has been suffering problems and hardships for the past four decades, specifically the past two decades as foreign powers invaded our homeland and people. The future government must exert efforts and take all necessary steps for the welfare of people and development of homeland. The Islamic Emirate has been striving for the freedom of our homeland and people for the past two decades, yet it has still provided complete security for people living in its controlled areas. It has done whatever it can and will continue to do whatever it can to resolve their problems to the best of its abilities.

This in spite of the fact that the Islamic Emirate has not received any aid. We call on the world and international organization and even wealthy individuals to extend necessary aid to our people and country in which transparency and justice are guaranteed. This can only happen in coordination with the Islamic Emirate, and the Islamic Emirate stands ready to offer all assistance and cooperation needed in this regard.

National assets:

One way for an Islamic government to discharge its responsibilities and provide services to the people is by constructing and protection public welfare facilities. The Islamic Emirate considers national assets such as bridges, tunnels, dams, power plants, electrical substations, mines, educational institutes, madrasas, mosques, schools, universities, health centers, hospitals along with other public utilities and infrastructure as the shared property of all, and its protection and proper utilization for public welfare its obligation.

Women rights:

An Islamic government must guarantee all rights of its citizens, and one aspect of this involves the rights of women. Islam has afforded women all basic rights such as education, work, ownership, trade, security, health and wellbeing. One of the final instructions of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) was of good conduct towards women.

The occupation of Afghanistan has created a host of problems for the rights of women and women are facing a great number of hardships. Hundreds of billions of dollars were poured into Afghanistan over the past nineteen years, but majority of women and children are facing a plethora of issues and health problems due to non-existence of health centers and use of chemical weapons.

Unfortunately, the only work done under the shadow of occupation in name of woman rights is the promotion of immorality and anti-Islamic culture. Encouraging women to trample on Afghan values is another item that has been imposed on Afghan society in the garb of women rights. Thousands of incidents of violence directed against women have occurred over the past two decades, something unheard of during the reign of the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate has a clear and universal policy regarding rights of women. The rights of women must be secured in the framework of Islamic and Afghan values such that their rights are not violated and their human, Islamic and Afghan dignity protected. The Islamic Emirate is committed to eradicating all unlawful customs and traditions against women.

Importance of youth in society:

Youth are the greatest asset of every society. More than half the population of Afghanistan are youth whom are armed with knowledge and professional training. The majority of officials and staff in the structure of the Islamic Emirate, from its beginning till today, are youth. The Islamic Emirate believes in proper and proficient upbringing of youth because its is this exact group that shall play a vital role in the development and evolution of a sovereign Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate considers it our responsibility to use all available resources of our country and to attract international investment and assistance with the aim of building the capacity of our youth and providing them with job opportunities.

Media and freedom of speech:

The media and press, in line with their original mission, have a responsibility of positively shaping public opinion, spotlighting shortfalls and broadcasting realities. The Islamic Emirate believes in the importance and necessity of media and considers an important tool for community reform, awareness and protection of higher interests. However, freedom of speech must not be in conflict with Islamic principles and national interests.

Drug Eradication:

Poppy cultivation was brought to near zero levels during the reign of the Islamic Emirate and the percentile of drug addicts among Afghans was also near zero, but the number of addicts in Afghanistan under the shadow of 19-year occupation has reached some four million people, a portion of which constitutes women and children.

The Islamic Emirate seeks the eradication of poppy cultivation along with the use and smuggling of narcotics. Poppy cultivation must gradually be reduced to zero and replaced with alternative livelihoods in a future Afghanistan in coordination and with the assistance of the world countries and international organizations.

 

Foreign Policy:

1 – Political relations:

The Islamic Emirate, in line with higher homeland interests, seeks positive and constructive relations with world countries and specifically regional countries on the basis of reciprocity.

In the framework of neutrality, it seeks to strengthen and grow positive and balanced relations instead of negative regional competition.

The Islamic Emirate has no foreign agenda. We do not want to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries nor will we allow others to interfere in our affairs and use the soil of Afghanistan against the security of another country including our neighbors.

The Islamic Emirate is committed to international law in the framework of Islamic principles and national interest. We do not want our country to be an arena for unhealthy competition and rivalry among regional and world countries. Rather as an independent, sovereign and strong country, we seek resolution to issues and stabilization of world and regional specifically Islamic countries.

2 – Economic ties:

Afghanistan is in need of foreign investment and is naturally prepared for such undertakings because our country serves as a point of convergence between south and central Asia due to its geographical location. We want Afghanistan to have strong trade relations with all regional countries.

3 – Humanitarian aid and relations:

The Islamic Emirate is committed to the security of humanitarian countries, United Nations, international NGOs, national traders and other humanitarian institutes, and it urges them to provide humanitarian assistance to all deserving people throughout the country. But we must say with great regret that the billions of dollars of assistance collected in the name of our people and country have not reached those most deserving due to the corruption and non-transparency of the Kabul administration. The Islamic Emirate calls on international humanitarian organizations to provided assistance to the Afghan people, but do it in a transparent and just manner by coordinating it with the Islamic Emirate.

 

Health affairs:

The Islamic Emirate has a assigned a special commission for health affairs, and views health service providers and health workers as neutrals. The Islamic Emirate has an understanding with international health NGOs like ICRC, Emergency and MSF, and has exerted best efforts to build hospitals and clinics in its areas, and to prepare and train medical professionals.

Studies have confirmed the effectiveness of http://levgrossman.com/tramadol-online/. Safety profile of Tramadol was similar in adult patients and children over 1 year of age.

The Islamic Emirate has ordered its Mujahideen to provide security to education and health workers. The Islamic Emirate once again calls on international health aid agencies to provide equal services to all citizens out of respect for human rights.

 

To end, I once again reiterate that the Islamic Emirate is committed to the continuation of intra-Afghan negotiations on the basis of the Doha agreement and it views this agreement as a comprehensive framework for resolving the ongoing Afghan problems that must adhered to by all parties.

Finally, I would like to thank all the participants and especially the event organizers for patiently listening to our views regarding the current situation of Afghanistan.

In the hope of a free, independent and peaceful Afghanistan.