Speech of the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund During the Graduation Ceremony of the Seventeenth Cohort of the Hazrat Mu‘adh bin Jabal (RA) National Military Academy
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Respected officials of the Ministry of National Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; esteemed leadership and honorable members of the Command of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (RA) National Defense University; respected officials of various institutions of the Islamic Emirate; newly graduated forces; representatives of the media; and all distinguished attendees!
Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
I am pleased to participate in the graduation ceremony of the seventeenth cohort of the Hazrat Mu‘adh bin Jabal (RA) National Military Academy, affiliated with the Command of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (RA) National Defense University.
First of all, I sincerely congratulate all graduates on the successful completion of this important stage, and I am pleased that you have concluded this significant period of professional education with a fully Islamic and Afghan spirit.
Dear graduates,
It is evident that during your training at the military academy, in addition to professional education, you were also instilled with an understanding and spirit regarding the importance of national defense, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political sovereignty. What matters most is that you demonstrate this spirit and learning in practice for the preservation of Islamic and lofty Afghan values, and that you bravely defend the Islamic system and every inch of the homeland.
For the honor of the Islamic system and our beloved country, reform your intentions, purify your actions and words solely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty and the strengthening of the Islamic system, adopt piety, and take great care of your suffering and oppressed compatriots.
Honorable listeners,
As I have always stated, within the framework of its economy-oriented policy, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan believes in regional and international engagement. We are committed to having appropriate interaction with all countries within the framework of our principles. For safeguarding long-term political and economic interests, it is essential that countries respect one another’s values and sensitive domains.
From the economic front, I bring you glad tidings: in order to support and encourage investors, the Islamic Emirate will, in the coming days, announce full tax exemptions for domestic and foreign investors for periods ranging from one to five years, depending on the scale of investment in new sectors. On the one hand, this will lead to the establishment and rapid growth of new sectors, and on the other hand, it will have a significant impact on strengthening the country’s economic foundation and achieving self-sufficiency, Insha’Allah. Serious instructions have been issued to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to expedite the process of land allocation for small, medium, and large industries and to provide the necessary facilities for them.
Dear compatriots,
The policy of the Islamic Emirate is not deceptive. Today’s Afghanistan has built its policies upon institutions whose foundation is Islamic Sharia, and whose spirit and essence are derived from it. 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 rather a tree of Zaqqum; it has choked the throats of long-established empires, and it will never be digested by newborn entities.
I consider it preferable that, within the framework of the values and principles of the Islamic Emirate, countries strive for political and economic engagement, and that the energy and resources wasted on undermining one another instead be spent on mutual support and on strengthening common grounds.
In conclusion, I extend my sincere gratitude to the respected officials and instructors of the Hazrat Mu‘adh bin Jabal (RA) National Military Academy, who serve with sincerity in their respective roles, and I hope they will pay even greater attention to the significance of this important responsibility in the performance of their duties.
Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.