Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund: History bears witness that Afghanistan is not a soft morsel, but a tree of Zaqqum

The Deputy PM for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, today, Sunday, February 8, 2026, attended the graduation ceremony of the seventeenth cohort of the Hazrat Mu‘adh bin Jabal (RA) National Military Academy, affiliated with the Command of the Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (RA) National Defense University.

The Deputy PM congratulated the graduates on having acquired, alongside professional training during the academy’s instructional period, education on the importance of national defense, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political sovereignty. He urged them to translate this spirit and learning into practice for the preservation of Islamic and lofty Afghan values, and to firmly defend the Islamic system and every inch of the homeland. He also emphasized the rectification of intentions, the adoption of piety, and care for the people of the country.

The Deputy PM further stated that the Islamic Emirate, within the framework of its economy-oriented policy, believes in regional and international cooperation and is committed to engagement with all countries within the bounds of its principles. He stressed that, in order to safeguard long-term political and economic interests, countries must respect one another’s values and sensitive domains.

He gave glad tidings to investors, stating that in the coming days the Islamic Emirate will announce full tax exemptions ranging from one to five years for domestic and foreign investors, depending on the scale of investment in new sectors. According to him, this will, on the one hand, lead to the development of new sectors, and on the other hand, have a significant impact on the country’s economic growth and self-sufficiency. He added that serious instructions have been issued to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to expedite the process of land distribution for small, medium, and large industries and to provide the necessary facilities.

The Deputy PM further stated that the policy of the Islamic Emirate is not deceptive and that today’s Afghanistan has built its policies upon institutions whose foundation is Islamic Sharia. He added: “Afghanistan neither seeks to harm anyone nor accepts harm from anyone. However, if someone harbors malicious intentions toward it, then it will not leave its debt to anyone. History bears witness that this country is not a soft morsel, but a tree of Zaqqum; it has choked the throats of long-established empires, and newborn entities will never be able to digest it.”

In conclusion, Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Akhund called on all countries to seek engagement with Afghanistan within the framework of the values and principles of the Islamic Emirate, and stated that the energy and resources wasted on undermining one another would be better spent on mutual support and strengthening common ground.