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Ghani says Biden’s withdrawal decision was a game changer but govt respects it
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Tuesday at a virtual conference that US President Joe Biden’s decision, endorsed by NATO, to withdraw all foreign troops from the country has been a “game-changing and game-shaping decision”.
Addressing delegates at the Looking towards Peace in Afghanistan after the US-NATO Withdrawal Conference, organized by the Arab Center Washington, Ghani said: “By ending the guessing game regarding the presence of the US forces, whether they will stay, or what they were here for, all stakeholders whether state or non-state had to rethink their assumptions and examine their interests vis a vie the new context and work with us to reframe and accelerate a peace that will lead to a just and lasting peace for the people of Afghanistan and of predictable and stable order for partnership with our neighbors, the region, the Islamic world, and our international partners.”
He said Biden’s decision had not been unexpected but that its resulted in a transition for which “we have mentally been dreading”.
But he said Afghan leaders, himself included, respect Biden’s decision and are now focused on the next chapter of dealings with the US, NATO and other partners who have helped and supported Afghanistan over the years with both “blood and treasure”.
His address came just two days before his trip to the US where he will meet with Biden to discuss the current situation in the country, the peace process and other issues.
On this note, Ghani stated he was looking forward to his discussion with Biden later this week.
Drawing a parallel to the uncertainty the world is facing due to COVID-19, he said it was this type of uncertainty that the people of Afghanistan have dealt with 43 years continuously.
Ghani however stated that the more people point towards a possible collapse of government or hostile takeover, once foreign forces have left, the more they are contributing to anxiety, and to uncertainty among Afghans.
“We as a people, have been denied for 43 years the very basic right of a society – the right to peace.”
He said Afghans are not asking the world for indefinite support but are asking for understanding, for empathy and for partnerships in a meaningful way.
He said should Afghanistan be engulfed in intense conflict, like that seen in Syria and Yemen, “no one in the region will be spared. The consequences will be spread.”
He said the context has changed following the withdrawal decision and that the narrative that occupiers are in Afghanistan “is over”. But the Afghan government has welcomed the departure of foreign troops from the country, he said.
However, partnerships are “going to shift fundamentally” and the new chapter will focus on bringing peace, prosperity and connectivity to Afghanistan, he said.
Thomas West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, said Monday the United States is deeply saddened by the devastating floods in different parts of the country and that its partners in the country are mobilizing emergency aid, including food and water.
Karen Decker, the US Embassy’s charge d’affaires for Afghanistan, also posted a message on X and said the US is heartbroken by loss of life in Baghlan and elsewhere in Afghanistan after heavy rains and flash floods.
“The United States joins others in mobilizing emergency relief, food, and medical supplies through partners to support recovery efforts,” Decker said.
The occurrence of devastating floods in several provinces of the country, especially in Baghlan, has caused casualties and huge financial losses to local residents.
Based on the latest statistics, more than 300 people have died in two districts of Baghlan.
A large number of aid organizations, including the European Union’s Office for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, OCHA, the International Organization for Migration and the World Health Organization, are providing assistance to the flood victims.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Economic Deputy Prime Minister, visited flood-hit areas in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan on Monday to assess the devastation inflicted on the area.
After visiting the affected areas, Baradar met with local officials and gave instructions to them and representatives of working committees to provide the necessary assistance to the flood victims.
Baradar meanwhile pointed out that extreme damage had been caused in the flood-hit districts.
“It is necessary that the [disaster management] organization accelerates its efforts to provide food, medicine and shelter for the displaced citizens and aid to the flood affected areas,” said Baradar.
Baghlan and other northern provinces were hit by heavy rains and flash floods on Friday, which left more than 300 dead and over 1,600 injured.
Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed and livestock wiped out.
Officials said huge financial losses have been incurred.
Appeals have been made by numerous organizations to aid agencies to step in to help the victims.
The spokesman of the Islamic Emirate says that the acting minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs met with the President of Turkey at a consultative meeting of scholars from the Islamic world.
Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X that Noor Mohammad Saqib, Acting Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, met and talked separately with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, at the meeting.
Mujahid added that during the meeting, Erdoğan expressed his satisfaction over the security and the current situation in Afghanistan.
Mujahid quoted Saqib as having thanked Erdoğan for hosting the meeting and said: “Afghanistan wants good and advanced relations with the brother country of Turkey.”
According to Mujahid, Saqib added that the Islamic world, especially Afghanistan, expects the Erdoğan to play an important role in solving the problems of the Islamic Ummah.
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