Statement of Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan Regarding Recent Security Incidents in the Country and the Need for Change in the Leadership of Security Institutions
As the largest political party in Afghanistan that has made great sacrifices over the past several years for peace, security and stability in the country, Jamiat-e-Islami Afghanistan is compelled to take an important stance in the wake of the current security situation in country, resulting from the tragic events of the past several months, the events of this past week, in particular. Terrorist and extremist groups, including the Taliban have brought much misery and suffering upon the people of Afghanistan over the past two decades. To this effect, prominent members of Jamiat-e-Islami have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against international terrorism, most notably, the leader of “Jihad and Resistance,” Shaheed Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, and Shaheed Ahmad Shah Massoud, National Hero of Afghanistan.
The terrorist attacks of the past year – including those which occurred in Sha Shaheed, Dehmazang and military hospital in Kabul; the 209th Corps in Balkh; as well as the attacks that led to the fall of Kunduz province on two occasions and loss of large territory in Helmand and other provinces – has raised serious questions among the people regarding the capability of the heads of the defense and security institutions to effectively combat terrorism. The attacks of this past week in Kabul and Khost, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives left many women widowed, children orphaned and families without a head of household is a clear indication of the following:
§ The heads of the Government of National Unity’s security institutions lack the ability and will to sufficiently protect the lives of people and effectively combat terrorist networks in the country.
§ There are various individuals and circles in the country’s security institutions that may be colluding with terrorists.
This past Wednesday’s tragic and unprecedented attack (on the 5th day of the Holy month of Ramadan) occurred close to the Afghan Presidential Palace and in a highly secure area of Kabul. In the aftermath of that attack, civil society groups and ordinary civilians alike exercised their civic rights and held peaceful demonstrations over the inability of security officials to ensure the safety and security of the people. However, instead of providing security for the protestors, security forces opened fire on the crowd, leaving some killed and wounding others. With this act, some members of the security forces attracted a negative image among the public, which equates to that of terrorists groups.
Enormous investment have been made over the past seventeen years to increase the capacity of Afghanistan’s national security forces and to strengthen the peoples trust and confidence in them. Nonetheless, Jamiat-e-Islami expresses its regret over images of security forces firing on protestors. These images have circulated widely on television and social media.
Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan has had great trust in the country’s national security forces and recognizes their enormous sacrifices, being made on a daily basis. Members of our security forces were the first of all victims of Wednesday’s terrorist attack. However, the security forces’ firing on crowds of protestors in Friday’s demonstrations raises serious questions over the lack of leadership in our security institutions.
Moreover, what occurred on Saturday during the funeral of one of the victims of Friday’s demonstrations reconfirms the notion that such terrorist attacks would not be possible without the consent and approval of some officials and personnel in the security institutions.
During the past seventeen years, there have been many instances where prominent members of Jamiat-e-Islami have been assassinated. However, Saturday’s attack at the funeral in Badam-Bagh indicates that the second wave of intended and targeted assassinations of Jamiat figures, including through suspicious terrorist attacks, seeks to target several figures at once.
The national security forces of Afghanistan are the true sons of our nation and are making enormous sacrifices for the defense, independence and dignity of our people. In order to prevent their image from being further tarnished and to ensure that the investments of the international community in the fight against terrorism do not go in vain, Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan, as a mutual partner in the Government of National Unity, calls for the following measures to be taken:
1- Removal of the National Security Adviser and other heads of security institutions and appointment of competent individuals in their place, who are acceptable to the nation.
2- Full and fair investigation of the tragic incidents that occurred on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and prosecution of those who conducted and directed those incidents.
3- Full implementation of the political agreement, a founding document for the legitimacy of the National Unity Government and which is important for peace and stability in the country.
Jamiat-e-Islami of Afghanistan calls for these measures to take place as soon as possible in order to improve the current situation. If these steps are not taken, it will, in consultation and agreement with other political parties and groups, make necessary decisions to change the political and security situation for the better.
