DUSHANBE, 07.09.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – Earlier it was reported that during the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Qureshiin Dushanbe on August 25, President Emomali Rahmon proposed to protect the rights of Tajiks and national minorities, as well as the place of Tajiks in the future government of Afghanistan. This statement received considerable attention and inspired solidarity in Tajikistan and outside its borders.

Doctor of Philology, Professor Abdunabi Sattorzoda who had also served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, shared his opinion on Facebook on September 6. His post is reprinted below.

President Emomali Rahmon’sunprecedented statement about the current situation in Afghanistan during his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Qureshicame as a surprise to many, including politicians and experts, as is evident from the reaction it garnered at home and abroad.

Since they were accustomed to the fact that for many years Tajikistan in its foreign policy with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan tried to maintain friendly relations, despite the fact that the former governments of this country openly pursued a policy of supporting the Pashtuns, limiting the social status, language and culture of Tajiks, whilst terrorizing or removing famous political figures and military leaders from the political arena.

However, actually,Tajikistan has established its relations clearly and precisely, taking into account a number of crucial factors, including the Tajiks permanently residing in Afghanistanwho make up approximately half of its population, the presence of the main national, political, literary, cultural and historical centers of our nation, including Herat, Balkh, Sistan, an our historical, religious and linguistic commonality. At the same time, no other country in the world, save for Iran and Uzbekistan, has received such exclusive privileges in Tajikistan’s foreign policy. This exception is clearly enshrined in the Foreign Policy Concept of the Republic of Tajikistan dated September 24, 2002.

The concept notes that «the Republic of Tajikistan is interested in … creating a comprehensive government on a political and ethnic basis in the future.»

Another fact that Afghanistan has always occupied a special place in Tajikistan’s foreign policy and has always been in the focus of President Rahmon and the government is that prior to the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001, in New York, he had repeatedly tried to draw the world’s attention from the high tribunes of the United Nations and other influential international and regional organizations to the threats and dangers posed by the Taliban, including the spread of terrorism, drug smuggling, religious extremism, and so on.

For example, the Norwegian Ambassador to the OSCE Kai Eide, stated that “it is now necessary to determine who joined whom.Whether Tajikistan joined the international union, or the union joined Tajikistan which has been fighting terrorism and all threats and dangers emanating from Afghanistan for more than seven years. Actually, wejoinedtheTajiks.”

It should be emphasized that Tajikistan was the initiator of the idea of creating a union of states with a common language (Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran), and within the framework of this organization uniting and mobilizing the sides to create a joint television channel. Unfortunately, the fanaticism and linguistic prejudices that existed in the former governments of Afghanistan towards the Farsi (Tajik) language became an obstacle to the implementation of this project.

Therefore, the main provisions of President Rahmon’sstatement made on August 25 on the current situation in Afghanistan, which, in the opinion of many domestic and foreign politicians and experts seemed unexpected, proceed from the essence and text of our country’s policy towards Afghanistan:

Creation of an inclusive government with the participation of all ethnic groups living in the country, including Tajiks, who make up over 46% of the population.

Tajiks must take their rightful place in the future government of Afghanistan.

The structure of the future state in Afghanistan should be determined by a referendum, considering the position of all its inhabitants.

Tajikistan does not recognize any government formed through oppression, persecution,which ignores the position of any peoples orethnicitiesin Afghanistan.

Tajikistan calls on the international community to take immediate steps to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan and help stabilize the difficult political and security situation in the country through negotiations. Otherwise, the neutrality of the international community will lead to a difficult situation in Afghanistan and the start of a protracted civil war.

The reasons for President Rahmon’s firm and open statement on the current situation in Afghanistan, in my opinion, may be:

The occupation of Afghanistan by the extremist and nationalist Taliban, which was founded by the ethnocentric «triumvirate» government of the traitor Ghani and his allies. This is confirmed by Ashraf Ghani’s confessionmade in the presence of 50 of his compatriots in Dubaiafter his escape.

“What I did, neither Amanullah Khan, nor Dawood Khan, nor Dr. Najib could do! That is why I skillfully and wisely transferred all the land from the Pamirs to Turgundi, from Islam Qalato Torkham, from Nuristan to Kabul, Kandahar, Ghazni, Bamiyan and Uruzgan to their original owners and not with empty hands, but with division, weapons, and ammunition, and it was not easy! I wanted to do this during the first term of my presidency, but I ran out of time. During the second term, together with several other like-minded people, such as Muhib Sahib, Fazli Sahib, Davudzai Sahib, Stonikzai Sahib, and others, I decided to get rid of the evil of the North — Rashid Dostum, and to clear out all the Tajiks and Uzbeks. There was only one way out, — the presence of the Taliban conquerors,” said this dishonorable traitor with ignorant pride.

The continuation of the nationalist, anti-Tajik policy of provocation of the Taliban during the occupation of northern Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s refusal to form an interim government with the broad participation of other political forces, and its intention to create an Islamic Emirate.

The beginning of the Taliban’s war in Panjshir against the Afghan National Resistance Front headed by the young Commander Ahmad Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who had closely cooperated and had fraternal relations with the respected President of Tajikistan.

Awareness of solidarity and support of some countries in the region and the world. It is no coincidence that on September 2in Yekaterinburg, explaining his country’s position regarding the National Resistance Front fighting against the Taliban in the Panjshir gorge, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that “Tajikistan can play an important role in this case. Because the main support of the resistance forces in Panjshir are the Tajiks of Afghanistan.»

Following President Rahmon’s statement made on August 25, the telephone conversations with the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of France Emmanuel Macron, and their respective invitations to Brussels and Paris, isclear evidence that they agree with his position and support it.

During a meeting with the representatives of the five-member UN Security Council on August 31, the UN Secretary General stressed the need to create an inclusive government in Afghanistan. This will increase our hope that President Rahmon’s position will be supported by the world community.

The biased reaction of the ungrateful [Gulbuddin] Hekmatyar to the respected President of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon’s statement made on August 25, is explained by his anti-Tajik sentiments and hatred of Persians, not his common sense.He fought the governments of ProfessorBurhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Massoud just because they were Tajiks. And all this in return for having once been saved from death by Ahmad Shah Massoud and having one been sheltered by Tajik authorities from Taliban’s persecution.

The publication of two decrees on September 2 by the President of Tajikistan on awarding the former President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani and the former Minister of Defense, the National Hero of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Massoud with the Order of Ismoili Somoni in the first degree, and his two last warnings:

a) about cutting off electricityin any part of Afghanistan

b) sending units of the special forces in the event of power outages at night and registering any Pakistanis among the captured Taliban

attest to the fact that President of Tajikistan is determined to protect the life, property, and interests of the ethnically related people.

Such a policy and protection of the legitimate rights of our kindred people in the neighboring country in the current situation when the Talibanare attacking Panjshir with all their strength and capabilities, and the question of the life and death of the Tajik people remans at the forefront, is absolutely rightand timely.

We wish the distinguished President of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, success in defending the rights of Tajiks all over the world!

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The Taliban isbanned and considered a terrorist movement by Tajikistan and several other countries.