IEA officials stress Afghan unity, global engagement

KABUL (Pajhwok): Officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), during a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan, emphasized Afghan unity and stated that the doors for engagement with other countries are open, while no one will be allowed to threaten Afghanistan’s territory.

Today, 14 February, marks 37 years since the withdrawal of former Soviet forces. After nearly a decade of war, Soviet troops were defeated and exited Afghanistan through the Hairatan border in the north on 14 February 1991.

Speaking at the ceremony in Kabul, Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said: “Anyone who follows the path of Allah and respects the nation is honorable, whether from Afghanistan or elsewhere. Do not limit your thinking to a single province or ethnic group; adopt a broader perspective.”

He added that Afghanistan has endured difficult times and that the current situation should be appreciated.

Addressing neighboring, regional, and international countries, he said the Afghan system has no ill intentions toward anyone and will never allow Afghanistan’s territory to be threatened.

Mujahid stressed that Afghanistan currently enjoys security and that any threats originating from the country have been contained. “We do not need external assistance for this,” he said. “Just do not create problems, do not look for pretexts, and do not attempt to defame Afghanistan. If you seek engagement, come forward—the doors are open.”

Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi emphasized that unity guarantees the continuity of the Islamic system. “If our nation remains united, the current system will never be weak,” he said, noting that Afghans do not accept occupation or foreign aggression.

According to Hanafi, aggressors have been defeated each time by the Afghan nation’s struggle, and despite facing the hardships of displacement, Afghans never abandoned their fight.

Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs Sheikh Noor Mohammad Thaqib warned that those with malicious intentions toward Afghanistan will face a harsh response.

He added that Afghans have experienced the “taste of jihad,” which others have been deprived of. “We seek a life of peace and security and will not allow anyone to threaten the safety of Afghanistan or the wider world,” he said.

Deputy Minister for Higher Education Sheikh Zia-ur-Rahman Aryoubi stated that with the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, nationwide security has been ensured, and people’s religion, property, and honor are protected.

He added that the IEA has made significant progress in political, economic, educational, and military sectors.

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