injured, I would like to begin by expressing my outrage at this despicable act of violence which goes against all human, cultural and religious norms, and is a vivid reminder as to why it is absolutely necessary for all of us, to rid Afghanistan of the scourge of terror, and to bring lasting peace to our people who have suffered for more than two decades.
I am sure that I speak for the overwhelming majority of Afghans when I say that it was truly encouraging and moving for me as my country’s envoy to Canada to hear the very strong support that was voiced by Parliamentarians from all parties for the mission to Afghanistan.
On behalf of my Government and the Afghan people, I would like to thank the people of Canada, the current and previous Governments and your elected representatives for their accurate reading of Afghanistan’s tormented history, of our shared responsibilities and our collective efforts, that include many other donors and international organizations, to strengthen security and stability in Afghanistan, and to help Afghans rebuild their country.
It is only natural to discuss such matters of national and global importance in any democracy, and there are those who will look at Afghanistan from various perspectives. However, given the circumstances in our region, it is important for us that decisions about timetables and exit strategies be worked out with all stakeholders, in accordance with the UN mandate, and in coordination with other international allies, to avoid a premature decision and a repeat of mistakes made in the past.
His Excellency, Prime Minister Harper’s visit to Kandahar and Kabul last month was a milestone in bilateral relations, and an exceptional occasion to meet with the courageous men and women of the Canadian Forces, local Afghans and Afghanistan’s national leaders, including President Hamed Karzai, to gain a better appreciation of the situation on the ground.
When tragedy hits, we mourn for our dead schoolchildren as we mourn for your brave soldiers and diplomats who gave their lives in the line of duty for a noble cause they truly believed in. More than a million Afghans died over the past 25 years defending their country, and today Afghans want nothing more than a free, dignified, and prosperous life.
This mission that receives such widespread support in Canada is not only a military mission, but as we have witnessed over the past four years, it is also a development mission to help us Afghans rebuild institutions, promote democratic values, human rights, gender equality, rule of law, good governance and fight poverty and narcotics. Success is not only calculated in terms of our ability to deny terrorists a stronghold in our region, or to prevent a relapse into a failed state, but also in terms of our ability to rebuild lives, provide new economic opportunities, develop capacities, fight injustice and intolerance and many other goals we share.
We are confident that Canada will continue to stand with us until we reach a point-of-no- return, when the terrorist network is no longer a threat, and when Afghanistan will be able to take care of its own security and development. We are encouraged that Canada will be with us in this journey for Afghanistan’s revival, along with many other nations today that make up our friends and partners from across the world.
Thank you.
|
