The Islamic Emirate and Peace in Afghanistan

Dr. Hameedullah Zabuli

Peace and security is a natural requirement and need of human beings. Without peace and security humans could not live as social beings. In social needs, it perhaps should rank second, just after food and water. Hence the importance of peace should never be underestimated.

Prior to the American invasion of Afghanistan, the Afghans were living in a peaceful environment. They lived under an Islamic governance system of their choosing. This was and remains the only form of what the westerners call ‘social contract’ acceptable to the Afghans. The Islamic government of the time worked tirelessly to engage the international community to strengthen regional peace, advocated international norms of equal sovereignty and treatment, and called for regional and trans-regional cooperation to boost economic growth in our country.

While the enemies of Afghanistan tried to punish the Afghans and stifle their economy through sanctions due to their irrational and obstinate abomination of all Islamic ideas yet the steady economic growth of the time benefited the poor and needy rather than simply expanding the gap between the rich and the poor.

Yet despite the attempts of the Islamic government to engage with all foreign nations some western states shunned our extended hand. When America was attacked in the middle of 2001 their political leaders at the time immediately pointed their fingers at the Taliban without any proper and due investigation. They failed to provide any material evidence to support their claim that these attacks were indeed planned in our country.

Despite the lack of any extradition treaty and without working within international norms and rules the Americans and their allies’ simply dictated terms all the while rapidly mobilizing their forces for an imminent attack. The Islamic government tried everything to reach a peaceful settlement and explicitly stated that there was no threat present from Afghanistan to other nations yet despite all this America and her allies launched their unprovoked attack – of dubious legality – on our nation and shattered the fragile peace reigning therein.

Over the past 15 years the Afghan nation has offered endless sacrifices to retain their independence and to throw away the yoke of foreign servitude. While they have suffered, yet they have remained resilient in their desire to maintain their independence and bring about a political settlement of their choosing. Afghans are tired of war, yet they will fight another 40 years rather than give up their dream of living under an Islamic governance system of their choosing and unencumbered by the threats of outside powers.