Kabul, Afghanistan—Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a statement praising the Afghan people’s stance on Pakistan’s attacks on its territory in recent days.
Ghani said: “The Afghan people have responded to the recent attacks on our beloved country, Pakistan, with strong nationalist sentiments, as always, and have renewed their commitment to protecting their national interests.
He added in a statement posted on his official page on x that it is important to note that protecting and promoting national interests and goals in an optimal manner requires national unity, national institutions, and open national dialogue.
Women, men, young people, and representatives of all classes and tribes participate.
Living nations constantly think about their national interests and goals, because they know that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies.
Achieving national goals
He said: International experience has shown that merely accepting the sanctity of one’s own national sentiments while disregarding the feelings of others has dire consequences. This is an important principle in defining national goals.
Achieving national goals requires sincerity and patience.
The approach of the Rightly Guided Caliphs was not to be swayed by emotions in their decisions and to accept the logical positions of others.
He emphasized that the most prominent example of the second righteous caliphs in Islam is His Excellency Omar al-Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him).
If the argument based on Quranic verses presented by a woman on a certain issue was superior to what I believed and justified, I accepted the conclusion.
Afghanistan celebrates 300th anniversary of its founding
He pointed out that in less than 22 years, Afghanistan will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the modern state, and Pakistan will celebrate the centenary of its creation.
In this scenario, the fundamental question now is: What is the nature of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan today? Will we continue to experience the suffering of the past half-century?
Or will we find a common way to cooperate, taking into account the needs and possibilities of the 21st century? The Durand Line is much older than Pakistan; it is a legacy of British colonialism.
He said: “I have extensively researched British documents on various aspects of this colonial legacy, which I will share with my people time and again.”
The legacy of colonialism
But there should be three points that are immediately clear to people on both sides of the line:
First, the Afghans have deep ties with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Their feelings, sadness, happiness, stability, growth, and peace are inseparable and intertwined.
Second, for 50 years, Pakistani officials themselves violated the Durand Line and did not consider it an official border.
This is contrary to their traditional position, and they have continuously interfered in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
He continued: Just as it is impossible to cover the sun with two fingers, it is impossible to hide the relations that some of our circles have with them in this process.
Third, the Durand Line was drawn in the colonial perspective of the 19th century.
But now both Afghanistan and Pakistan must find a logical path for the 21st century.
Afghanistan and Pakistan face serious problems
Here, it should also be clear that this knot cannot be untied without the Azad Jirga decision for the people of Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Threats of death and destruction are not a sign of strength, but rather a sign of a lack of planning.
He emphasized that both Afghanistan and Pakistan face serious problems, and neither can force the other to act.
Noting that the consequences of any kind of violence in the initial stage would harm the people of Damangir on both sides,
And then everyone will die. The consequences of colonialism and short-termism are now clear for all to see.
He emphasized: Victory will be ours if we learn the bitter lessons from these experiences and lay the foundation for lasting peace between the two powerful nations. As a great nation, we have never ignored the decisions of the great nation.
Afghanistan is full of hidden potential
In important national issues, collective wisdom and the will of the people are always invoked, and the participation of the people in the framework of the Gerga councils is guaranteed.
There is no doubt that our people are facing problems right now—people want jobs, and young people are looking for ways and opportunities for a better future.
But I repeat that our hunger is not eternal and will not be eternal. Afghanistan is rich in hidden and obvious potential, and if used wisely within a legitimate system,
It can become a prosperous, stable, and advanced country.
Now is the time to understand where we are headed. Where are we? Where are we headed?
More importantly, do we know where we are headed, or have we lost our way? In national and international affairs, power is a means, not an end.
The purpose of force should not be to increase problems, but to solve them, serve the people, and establish a just system.
If we reach a conclusion on this matter, the path forward will be clear; if we do not,
The responsibility for the consequences lies with those who try to hide the sun with two fingers.
Long live Afghanistan, long live Afghanistan, long live Afghanistan.
