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Ghani’s speech at US Congress made ties stronger between two nations
President Ghani’s recent statements at US congress made relations stronger between Afghanistan-America.
Afghan analysts praised President Ghani’s new steps in relations between the two countries.
Ghani has promised US lawmakers his country will be able to pay for its own security forces within a decade, during a trip to Washington designed to shore up American financial and military support.
In an address to a joint session of US Congress, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani surveys Middle East, also expresses concern over Islamic State and openness to reconciliation with Taliban. Ghani said Islamic State militants are already sending advance guards to southern and western Afghanistan “to test for vulnerabilities”. He also said Pakistan’s counter-insurgency operations are pushing the Taliban from south Waziristan towards Afghanistan’s border regions.
In an impassioned address, Ghani said groups like the Islamic State pose a “terrible threat” to the region and said their hatred must be challenged from “within the religion of Islam.”
“We are willing to speak truth to terror,” Ghani said of the Afghan people.
Ghani’s message to the Muslim world aligns with recent appeals from a handful of other moderate leaders in the region, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. While he warned of what he described as a “darker cloud” of extremism looming over the region, Ghani also voiced hope about Afghanistan’s future.
He said Afghanistan is “uniquely positioned” to block the spread of extremism. “After all, we defeated most of the empires,” he chuckled, to laughter from the congressional audience.
“We have no more interest in perpetuating a childish dependence than you have in being saddled with a poor family member who lacks the energy and drive to get out and find a job,” added Ghani. “We are not going to be the lazy uncle Joe.”
However, Afghan analyst said that the deep of President ghani’s talks was overall but presenting the future’s plans give US congress a new picture from Afghanistan in the next years.
This is the first trip of national unity government to United States. President Ghani urged US president to not abandon Afghanistan and cooperate in fight against terrorism with his country.
Mohammad Hassan Akhund, in his Eid message, has emphasized stronger support and assistance for returnees and victims of recent floods and earthquakes, saying the Islamic Emirate has worked to help affected families within its available capacity.
He said many of the challenges facing the Muslim world stem from division and self-interest, stressing that unity, cooperation, and solidarity must be strengthened at both individual and societal levels.
The prime minister noted that in recent months millions of migrants have returned to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, while others have been displaced due to natural disasters. He said the authorities have tried to provide assistance to these families to the extent possible.
Mohammad Hassan Akhund also instructed officials to visit families of martyrs, orphans, and people with disabilities during Eid and to listen to public concerns. He further directed security and defense forces to ensure heightened vigilance during the holiday period in order to maintain safety and allow citizens to celebrate Eid in peace.
Eid prayers were also held at the Sapidar Palace in Kabul with the participation of diplomatic representatives and senior officials, while across the country citizens gathered in mosques and open spaces to mark the occasion peacefully.
Residents in various provinces described Eid as a time of reconciliation and unity. A resident of Herat, Hamed, said Eid should be an opportunity to set aside grievances and strengthen bonds of friendship. Another resident, Sultan Ahmad Saber, said Eid is meant to remove divisions, embrace one another, and preserve purity of heart by forgetting past disputes.
In a separate message, former president Hamid Karzai called for the reopening of schools and universities for girls and the creation of job opportunities for women, stressing that Afghanistan’s progress depends on unity, education, and a shared sense of responsibility toward the country.
Turkmenistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have discussed regional cooperation and major infrastructure projects aimed at supporting Afghanistan’s economic recovery, according to the Turkmen government.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Pavel Yershov, the newly appointed head of UNAMA’s office in Herat, and Batyr Yyolov, Turkmenistan’s consul general in Herat, Trend news agency reported.
Both sides emphasized Turkmenistan’s role in promoting stability and economic growth in Afghanistan through regional energy and transport projects, including the TAPI gas pipeline and electricity transmission initiatives.
The meeting also focused on ongoing railway development and modernization projects aimed at improving connectivity and trade links between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, has said that the Islamic Emirate would not compromise on Islam or Islamic law with any country or group, but remains ready to engage with the international community within the framework of Sharia.
In his Eid al-Adha sermon at the Eidgah in Kandahar, Akhundzada said Afghans are prepared to endure economic hardships and external pressure, but “will not bow to infidels” or abandon their religious values. “The world should not expect us to compromise on the religion of Allah or give up our faith,” he said.
The Supreme Leader also stressed the importance of unity and preventing discord, saying solidarity among the people is essential for maintaining peace and preventing conflict in the country.
“I do not protect myself with the lives of the people; I protect the people with my own life,” he said. “I stood for unity, harmony and peace among the people so that war and discord would not return, and I remain committed to that.”
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada also referred to the amnesty announced for former government officials and urged them to return to Afghanistan and live without fear. He said the country belongs to all Afghans and that everyone has the right to live in their homeland.
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