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Stanikzai says Afghanistan has fighters who can act like ‘atomic bomb’
In an apparent warning to Pakistan, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai said on Saturday that Afghanistan has fighters who can act like “atomic bomb.”
“Today is not the day to work with Kalashnikov. Today, you will not work with M4. Today, you will have fast planes and drones. You will have weapons that the world will fear you,” Stanikzai said addressing a graduation ceremony in Kabul’s Loya Jirga hall. “Neighboring countries are proud of their weapons and claim that the Emirate is nothing in front of them. But we tell them that if you have named your rocket Ahmad and Mahmud, Ahmad and Mahmud themselves are here with us. If you have named your rocket Ghaznavi, Babur or Abdali, my country is full of Abdalis, Mahmuds and Abdalis. Each of them is an atomic bomb.”
Stanikzai warned that if Afghanistan sends “five sons of Mahmud, Abdali or Babur across the border, no one could stop them not even in the Indian Ocean.”
The official said that Afghan forces have successfully protected the country’s borders. “If the enemy has looked at it with an evil eye, they have plucked out their eye.”
The remarks come as Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province last month, killing dozens of people. Afghanistan retaliated targeting multiple points in Pakistan.
In his speech, Stanikzai also stressed on the importance of making Afghanistan’s economy self-reliant.
“Any country that is poor is a slave. This is a principle in the world. A hungry and poor person accepts the orders of the rich, and if he does not accept their orders, no one will give him bread. Today, if foreign countries and organizations set conditions in Afghanistan, it is because we are dependent on them. If we were economically self-reliant, we would tell everyone that we will not accept any of your conditions and you should not interfere, but unfortunately, we are dependent for even a sack of flour,” he said.
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Iran says an inclusive government in Afghanistan is essential to prevent renewed conflict
Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, has stated that forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan is crucial to preventing the re-emergence of conflict.
Speaking at Wednesday’s UN Security Council meeting on the Situation in Afghanistan, Iravani said: “Establishing a truly inclusive government that genuinely represents the people is essential for achieving lasting peace and stability, preventing renewed conflict and large-scale refugee flows, ensuring security, advancing economic recovery, and upholding human rights—particularly the rights of women and girls.”
The Iranian diplomat emphasized that meaningful and practical engagement with Afghanistan’s authorities is necessary to address the humanitarian and economic crises threatening both the country and regional stability.
He stressed that humanitarian assistance must never be politicized, sanctions should not obstruct stabilization or economic development, and Afghanistan’s frozen national assets must be released immediately to meet the urgent needs of its people.
Expressing concern over the situation of women and girls, Iravani called on the Islamic Emirate to lift existing restrictions.
He also voiced concern about recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that Iran’s security is inseparably linked to that of both its neighbors.
“Afghan territory must never become a base for terrorism or violence against neighboring countries,” Iravani said, adding that the authorities in Kabul must take full responsibility for preventing any support to terrorist groups.
The remarks come as the Islamic Emirate maintains that its current administration is inclusive, that the rights of women and girls are respected in line with Sharia, and that Afghan soil will not be used against any other country.
Georgette Gagnon, Deputy Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated in her latest report to the UN Security Council that Media freedom in Afghanistan has become increasingly restricted.
In her report, released on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, Gagnon said: “Media freedom is increasingly restricted. Journalists face intimidation, detention, and censorship, reducing the space for public debate and public participation with people excluded from decisions on their own future.”
According to Gagnon’s report, the people of Afghanistan continue to face multiple crises, and their situation requires urgent attention and broader support from the international community.
She added: “Women and girls continue to be systematically excluded from almost all aspects of public life. The ban on secondary and tertiary education for girls persists now into its fourth year, depriving Afghanistan of female doctors, entrepreneurs, teachers, and leaders critical to the country today and for its future.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized that media in the country can operate freely according to Islamic principles and national interests, and that citizens’ rights, especially those of women are safeguarded within the framework of religion.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate said in a statement on Wednesday that Gilles Bertrand, the newly appointed EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has assured the IEA of the continuation of EU assistance to the country.
Bertrand made these remarks during a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Bertrand has praised the Islamic Emirate for their four-year achievements in areas of stability, security and economy, assuring continued EU assistance and calling for expanded cooperation to attract major foreign investment to the country.
The statement added that Bertrand praised the IEA as well for accommodating millions of returning Afghan migrants.
He also noted the EU’s increased attention and cooperation in the economic sector, particularly regarding Afghanistan’s private sector and called for further collaboration between the two sides to attract investment from major international companies.
During the meeting, Muttaqi expressed appreciation for the work of the EU’s previous envoy for Afghanistan within the framework of humanitarian cooperation.
Muttaqi also highlighted major projects launched by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan over the past four years and called on the European Union to take positive steps toward Afghanistan’s development in various areas.
In conclusion, both sides emphasized the continuation of cooperation and such meetings.
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