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Karzai says goodbye with a final jibe at U.S
Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai said goodbye to government officials and used his farewell speech to take a parting shot at the United States, accusing Washington of waging a war against Taliban insurgents for its own ends.
“This is not our war, it is a foreigners’ war — it is based on their goals,” Karzai told government officials as he bid them goodbye at the presidential palace in Kabul.
The only president Afghanistan has known since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion said the United States wanted war in Afghanistan “because of its own interests.”
He has often criticized the US military campaign that has struggled to defeat the Islamist insurgency that engulfed the country.
“My advice to the next government is to be very careful with America and the West. We can be friends with them, but we want equal benefits,” Karzai added.
Karzai’s relationship with Washington plunged to a new low last year when he decided not to sign a bilateral security agreement (BSA) to allow some US troops to stay in Afghanistan beyond this year on a training and support mission.
Karzai, 56, has said he will live as an ordinary citizen in Kabul with his family when he retires, and will offer advice to the government only if asked.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Afghanistan says the country has the world’s fifth-highest number of obstetric fistula cases, with an estimated 15,000 women and girls suffering from the childbirth-related injury.
In a post on X, UNFPA Afghanistan said obstetric fistula continues to cause disability and social isolation for thousands of Afghan women and girls.
The agency stressed that preventing and treating the condition requires access to healthcare services, safe surgical procedures, and essential medical supplies.
Obstetric fistula is a serious childbirth injury that usually occurs after prolonged or obstructed labor without timely medical care. The condition can lead to chronic health complications and often leaves affected women facing stigma and exclusion from their communities.
Fazl-ul-Hadi Hamza, the cultural attaché of the Afghan embassy in Moscow, participated in the “Colors of the World” art exhibition featuring creative works by foreign diplomats.
The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the State Tretyakov Gallery with the support of the ministry’s state protocol department and in cooperation with the Russian Ministry of Culture, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement.
The event is being held for the second consecutive year as part of the international “Intermuseum” festival and will remain open to visitors for three days.
During the exhibition, Zabih Paikan, an Afghan painter residing in Russia, displayed his artworks, which drew significant attention from visitors. Exhibition organizers also recognized his artworks as one of the top entries at the event.
Zabih Paikan was introduced to the exhibition by the cultural attaché of the Afghan embassy in Moscow.
Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, in a message on the occasion on Eid al-Adha, congratulated the people of Afghanistan and Muslims around the world and emphasized the protection of the Islamic system, implementation of Sharia law, and support for returning migrants.
He urged Afghans to value the country’s security, stability, prosperity, and Islamic system, calling on the public to unite in strengthening and preserving it.
The Islamic Emirate leader said that under the Islamic system, the Sharia rights of citizens are protected and oppression and injustice are being prevented. He also described the activities of Sharia courts and the enforcement of the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice as part of broader efforts to reform society.
In the message, religious scholars, officials responsible for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, and religious outreach institutions were encouraged to expand public religious awareness, particularly on issues related to prayer and Islamic beliefs.
Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada also said the Islamic Emirate remains committed to supporting orphans, widows, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families, while calling on wealthy Afghans to increase assistance to those in need.
He stressed that the Islamic Emirate seeks political and economic relations with the international community, especially Islamic countries, within the framework of Sharia principles.
The leader of the Islamic Emirate further instructed government officials to prioritize public service, citizens’ welfare, and the swift handling of people’s concerns, while warning against injustice and abuse of power.
He also directed security institutions to ensure public safety and peace during the Eid holidays and called on relevant authorities to provide greater support and facilities for returning migrants, particularly in settlement, land distribution, and resettlement efforts.
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