Press Release

Date of Release: 17 January 2006

Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, held a meeting with the governor of Kandahar, tribal elders, women and members of Kandahar's provincial council through video conferencing to assess the security situation on the ground. The President expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack in Spinboldak, Kandahar province.

During this video conferencing, the Ulemas, tribal elders, women and members of the provincial council talked about the recent terrorist attacks and said “These attacks are the work of terrorists infiltrating Afghanistan from the other side of the border and they are not Afghans. They are foreigners and we all know that their training camps and hideouts are outside Afghanistan.”

The Ulemas, tribal elders and members of the provincial council expressed their preparedness to defend their areas and also unanimously requested the establishment of religious schools inside Afghanistan so that Afghans won't be in need of studying on the other side of the border and it will reduce the risk of Afghans being misused by the enemies of Afghanistan.

They also requested that border tribes be reinforced by the government of Afghanistan to prevent the terrorists from infiltrating into the country.

The President expressed his regret at the recent incidents and said, “This is not and won't be the first attack in Afghanistan, it's nearly 30 years that the people of Afghanistan have been facing terrorist attacks.”

“The only reason for these attacks is that Afghanistan is a proud and sovereign country. We do not accept to be others' slaves and will never surrender into slavery. Over the course of our long history, the people of Afghanistan have protected their independence with numerous sacrifices and at the cost of shedding their blood. Afghans will make more sacrifices for protection of their country, if need be.”

The President added “The people of Chaman were also killed in yesterday's terrorist attack besides the people of Spinboldak. In addition, the people of Bajawur lost their lives in the fight against terrorism. It is a harsh reality that during the past 30 years Afghanistan and tribal areas namely Chaman, Bajawur and Wazirestan have been facing continued conspiracies and destructions.”

“Terrorism, Al Qaeda and extremism, with the use of force and conspiracy, have taken haven in tribal areas and in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan and tribal people are killed in the fight against terrorism.”

“These attacks in Afghanistan are a clear indication of the terrorists' cowardice, weakness and defeat. Tying a bomb on a motorcycle and detonating it during the Eid festival demonstrates the terrorists' cowardice or killing Mullah Muhammad Khaksar Akhund who was a former member of the Taliban movement and worked for the prosperity of Afghanistan and contributing to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, shows their cowardice.”

 “The enemies of Afghanistan can not tolerate the ongoing development of Afghanistan, our country's independence and its dignified presence at the international level.”

Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan