Mujahid: Afghanistan has achieved peace, focus now on economic growth

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has responded to the European Union’s renewed call for an inclusive political process, saying Afghanistan has achieved peace and stability and is now focused on economic development.

Speaking on the issue, Mujahid said the Afghan people have emerged from decades of war and instability, adding that the country’s security forces are capable of maintaining order and safeguarding national stability.

“Peace and stability exist in Afghanistan. The people have been rescued from war, misery, disputes and conflict. We have strong security forces capable of maintaining stability, and now the priority is to ensure Afghanistan’s economy stands on its own and achieves significant growth,” he said.

Mujahid also called on the international community to expand engagement with Afghanistan rather than express concerns about the country’s situation.

“We want other countries not to be worried about Afghanistan, but to discuss and strengthen their relations and overall engagement with the country,” he added.

His remarks came after the European Union, speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, once again emphasized the need for an inclusive political process in Afghanistan, arguing that such a framework could contribute to long-term peace and stability.

The EU also called for unhindered humanitarian access throughout Afghanistan and stressed the importance of ensuring women’s participation in the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The Islamic Emirate has consistently maintained that the issue of forming an inclusive government is an internal Afghan matter and has described foreign comments on the subject as interference in the country’s domestic affairs.

The debate over political inclusion remains one of the key issues raised by the international community in its engagement with Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate returned to power in August 2021.