The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, reportedly spoke today at a meeting in Kandahar and said he will not let anyone interfere with the current goverment but he is ready to engage with the international community within a Sharia framework.
A high-level gathering of around 2,500 participants including Islamic clerics, civil society activists, Islamic Emirate officials and officials of the former Afghan government was held on Thursday in Kandahar.
There was no media coverage during the speech of the Islamic Emirate’s leader.
Meanwhile, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that the Islamic Emirate has represented Afghanistan in a “better way” around the world.
“No one should test the Afghans. Let these poor and proud people live happily,” he said.
Muttaqi said that the Islamic Emirate wants good relations with all countries, but relations after 20 years of war with some countries cannot be expected to be normalized quickly.
“Afghanistan will not be the ground for the conflict of world powers, and the Afghan soil will not be used against anyone,” he added.
“There is no land in the country which is not under the control of the Islamic Emirate,” said the acting Minister of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi.
“All of the girls are your girls. The facilitation of education for them is the wish of all Afghans,” said Abdul Samad Madani, a trader.
The gathering is the second largest to be held since the Islamic Emirate came to power, after the meeting of clerics in Kabul.
Meanwhile, some elders and young people from the southeast provinces of the country asked that attendees of the “Gathering of Islamic Clerics” discuss topic such as forming an inclusive government, the reopening of girls’ schools above 6th grade and finding a basic solution for the economic problems of the people.
Residents of the provinces of Logar, Paktia, Khost, and Paktika contributed to the significance of the gathering by stating that the government should listen to the voices of the people and respect their rights.
“Our current problems should be resolved and a vertical roadmap should remain for the future of Afghanistan,” said Sarwar Ahmadzai, an elder of a tribe in Logar province.
“These gatherings are crucial for Afghanistan if they are done honestly and the wishes of the people are respected,” said Lawanng Arman, a resident of Khost.
According to the citizens, the current economic crisis affects the majority of people, and this gathering must find a reasonable solution for it.
“An inclusive government should be formed in Afghanistan that is acceptable to the international community and has excellent connections with them,” said Adam Khan, a Paktia tribal elder.—Tolonews
