At a ceremony commemorating the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, the Taliban's Interior Minister, Sarajuddin Haqqani, labelled any form of negligence and selfishness in governance as absolutely unacceptable.
Haqqani reflected on the aftermath of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, highlighting that power disputes among former anti-Soviet Jihadi leaders sparked the onset of civil wars.
Taliban media reports conveyed Haqqani's remarks on Wednesday, where he discussed his role in the current Taliban administration. Despite having no initial ambition to join the government post-Taliban resurgence, Haqqani stated that his dedication to Afghanistan and its people compelled him to take up a governmental role. He remarked, "I never had the desire to be in a [government] position, but the problems of Afghans and the love for the country compelled me to be in this position."
Haqqani stressed that the Afghan populace grew disillusioned with Jihad due to the internal conflicts and civil wars ignited by disagreements among former leaders.
He advised, "We must learn from the past and proceed with caution." While Haqqani has previously been critical of the Taliban administration, he refrained from elaborating on his comments about selfishness within the current government during his speech on Wednesday.
In the same event, the Taliban's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, asserted Afghanistan's resilience against reoccupation. He emphasised the failure of the former Soviet Union and other superpowers in Afghanistan, stating that the Afghan spirit rejects foreign domination and refuses to succumb to subjugation.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister, reminded attendees that the Soviet invasion marked the beginning of immense suffering, including the massacre of religious scholars, the inhumane treatment of university professors and students, and the devastation of Afghan youth. He highlighted the tragic loss of one and a half million lives due to the Soviet aggression.
On the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Soviet occupation, the Taliban administration released a statement affirming Afghanistan's policy of non-interference and its refusal to permit any violation of its people's rights or internal affairs.
The statement further emphasised the Taliban's desire to foster robust and harmonious international relations based on Islamic principles, ensuring no harm to any party. The Taliban called upon all nations to honour their commitments towards fostering amicable relations grounded in Islamic values.