‘Feb 29 when world submits to the will of Afghans’

KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy prime minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Tuesday stressed on education and working for the country’s economic growth and urged the world to follow the way of dialogue with Afghanistan.

Two years ago on February 29, 2020, the historic Doha Agreement was signed between Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Envoy for reconciliation in Afghanistan and Mullah Baradar, deputy prime minister of the current caretaker government. Baradar was the deputy head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar at the time.

Today March 1, which was February 29 in 2020, marks two years of the agreement.

A special conference was held on the occasion today in capital Kabul.

First deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, told the conference that February 29 was the day when the world submitted to the will of the Afghan people.

Baradar called on the international community to pursue a path of understanding and dialogue instead of imposing war on Afghanistan.

“It’s not easy to get out of 40 years of misery, Afghans would also achieve gains in the economic area the same as they did in military,” he added.

“After the end of the occupation, our greatest duty is to work for the economic growth of Afghanistan and to launch major projects in the country,” he said.

He asked Afghans to work for the development of their country instead of migrating abroad.

He urged the youth to continue their education by going to universities, schools and academic centers to ensure a bright future for Afghanistan.

“Without education, the country will not prosper and we will not be free from the need of foreigners,” he said.

Mullah Baradar also asked experts from different parts of the country to share their plans for the development of Afghanistan with the government.

“The people should support the Islamic Emirate against evil elements who want to push Afghanistan to the brink of war once again,” Ghani said.

He asked people to stay patient, saying that the country would be reconstructed and Afghanistan would become a competitive nation in the world in the near future.

During the meeting, Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Mulavi Shahabuddin Delawar, said that the Islamic Emirate held on its position during the talks with the US side before the Doha Agreement and the US defeat started after the agreement signed.

“The US told us in negotiations that our withdrawal will either divide Afghanistan or face the fate of Syria, but we told them nothing will happen after your withdrawal,” he said.

Delawar also said that the general amnesty decree was closely monitored and no one was allowed to violate it.

mds/ma

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