Government model and name, an Afghan prerogative

During an address to the conference convened in Geneva on Tuesday, the Chief of European Union Foreign Policy, Josep Borrel, warned against the establishment of an Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, adding that the reestablishment of such a system would impact the scope and size of EU political interaction and economic aid.

Such an announcement by this particular EU official indicates that perhaps he is either still caught up in the past or misreading the situation to be similar to the past nineteen years – a period in which the foreigners had a carte blanche to impose alien ideas on Afghanistan and the Afghans through force, funds and manipulation, and to enforce an imported system by usurping their political self-determination.

We wish to remind this obtuse official to update his memory if he so lacks knowledge about the current Afghan reality. He must understand that the two-decade war that has raged in this land is precisely because foreigners have continually recommended the wrong prescriptions for the Afghans, which the Afghans have resolutely rejected. All efforts aimed at forcing such prescriptions have failed to produce the desired outcomes and therefore, the international community has arrived at a consensus – to respect the self-determination, values and customs of the Afghans and to allow them to form whatever type of government they see fit.

Moreover, it is an accepted international principle that all nations in all corners of the world have a lawful right to build a government of whatever form and under whatever title for their own country, an inherent right that must also be afforded to our people. Our people are a believing nation who have an unwavering faith in their religion, Islam, and have presented colossal sacrifices for an Islamic government. Islamic Emirate is also a name that has deep Islamic roots and antecedent in Afghanistan, and most leaders of Afghanistan during the nineteenth century were also crowned ‘Emirs’. Therefore, such assertions by EU officials amounts to interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, that has neither any logical nor any legal justification.

Afghans expect from international organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations that they focus their energies on finding solutions. Facilitating the path towards peace, humanitarian aid and showing respect for Afghan self-determination are noble aims towards which they and all other sides have a moral obligation.

As the Islamic Emirate has made commitments about preventing harm to other nations from Afghanistan, all world countries and organizations including the European Union must also show respect to the principle of reciprocity by not interfering in the internal affairs of our homeland.

We do not understand from where this EU official bestows upon himself the authority to impart instructions to Afghans about determining the working underpinnings and titles of their country. Such paternalistic comments are not only irresponsible but are both counterproductive and unhelpful in finding a resolution.