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Afghan envoy in Islamabad marks four years since IEA’s return to power
Speaking to guests, Shakeeb recalled August 15, 2021, when IEA forces entered Kabul and ended what he described as “the third foreign occupation.”
Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, marked the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s (IEA) return to power on Friday with a keynote address at an Independence Day ceremony in Islamabad, calling the day “a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of Afghans.”
Speaking to diplomats, political leaders, academics, businessmen, and other guests, Shakeeb recalled August 15, 2021, when IEA forces entered Kabul and ended what he described as “the third foreign occupation.”
“Four years ago, on this very day, with the help of Almighty Allah, under the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the Afghan people regained their freedom for the third time and took back control of their homeland,” Shakeeb said.
He said the day was not only a turning point for Afghanistan but also the beginning of a new approach to international relations.
“When our leadership took control of Kabul, they sent a clear message: with the end of war and occupation, the chapter of hostility has closed, and now we must open a new page in our relations. This new page should be based on mutual respect, fairness, and dignity,” he said.
Outlining the IEA government’s foreign policy, Shakeeb emphasized what he called a shift toward stability and cooperation. “Afghanistan’s foreign policy is based on peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, regional stability, and global partnership,” he said.
“Our land is a center for cooperation, trade, and civilizational ties—not a ground for negative competition or hostility.”
Shakeeb highlighted what he described as achievements over the past four years, including restored nationwide security, a functioning governance structure, and the creation of favorable conditions for trade, investment, and tourism.
Addressing the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the ambassador praised their role in fostering cultural and economic ties while urging host countries to ensure dignified and voluntary repatriation.
“Afghan refugees have served as ambassadors of our culture and values, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s economy. Over the past four years, four million refugees have returned from Pakistan and Iran. The Islamic Emirate has provided services to them and will continue to do so. But we call on host nations to ensure their return is carried out with dignity and respect,” he said.
The event brought together Pakistani officials, foreign diplomats, tribal elders, scholars, and members of the Afghan community. Concluding his remarks, Shakeeb thanked attendees for joining in what he called “a glorious day for Afghans.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the security, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan are directly linked to the interests of its neighbouring countries, stressing that regional cooperation is essential for lasting peace and development.
Speaking at a regional meeting on Afghanistan in Tehran, Araghchi said no extra-regional or imposed solutions can resolve Afghanistan’s challenges, arguing that neighbouring states are the most natural and reliable partners in addressing regional crises. He said Iran has consistently emphasized the central role of neighbours in all initiatives related to Afghanistan.
Highlighting Afghanistan’s geo-economic position at the crossroads of Central, West and South Asia, Araghchi said the country’s stability and development are not only a humanitarian necessity but also a strategic requirement for the entire region.
He noted that Iran, as a long-standing neighbour and close partner of the Afghan people, supports Afghanistan’s full regional integration. Araghchi added that the failure of security-centric and externally imposed approaches, including NATO’s two-decade military presence and the hasty U.S. withdrawal in 2021, demonstrated the limits of outside intervention.
The Iranian foreign minister called for regular dialogue mechanisms among Afghanistan’s neighbours to prevent misunderstandings, improve coordination on economic, border and humanitarian issues, reduce tensions and strengthen regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, said Islamabad’s concerns over terrorism must be addressed resolutely, adding that Pakistan supports peace, development and security across the region.
Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has emphasized the importance of acquiring both religious and contemporary knowledge.
Speaking at a madrasa graduation ceremony in Kandahar province, he urged communities to support schools and education, stating: “Do not let your children remain uneducated. Pursue all forms of knowledge, both modern and religious.”
He added that the Islamic Emirate is committed to serving the people, with some forces protecting the borders and others safeguarding lives and property.
Separately, in a voice message to a separate ceremony in Khost, Mullah Tajmir Jawad, First Deputy of the General Directorate of Intelligence, highlighted Afghanistan’s historical role as a center of religious and scholarly learning, influenced by the Transoxiana and Deoband schools of thought.
He noted that today, Afghanistan has tens of thousands of active madrassas, educating a large number of youth, and that the Islamic Emirate gives special attention to both religious and modern sciences.
He said that the Islamic Emirate is also focused on reforming madrasa curricula, improving teaching methods, maintaining discipline, and raising the overall quality of education.
The United States has delivered a second batch of UH-60A+ Black Hawk helicopters—previously operated by Afghanistan’s former government forces—to Peru.
The helicopters were part of military equipment relocated to Uzbekistan following the Islamic Emirate’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, when 22 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters crossed into Uzbek airspace.
The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly demanded the return of the aircraft, but Uzbekistan has declined, maintaining that the equipment does not belong to Afghanistan. In February 2025, Uzbekistan transferred seven Afghan Black Hawk helicopters to the United States.
In November 2024, the United States presented Peru with the first batch of nine Sikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk multi-role helicopters.
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