President Karzai Returns to Kabul after
His Visit to the Province of Kunar
Office of the Spokesman for the President
03/18/2006
Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President
of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, returned to Kabul this
afternoon after his visit to the province Kunar today where
he inaugurated the newly constructed building of the provincial
administration office.
During this visit, the President met with community
representatives from all districts of Kunar province which included
women, students, tribal elders, Ulemas and Government officials.
While addressing a public gathering the President
said “Four years ago, Afghanistan embarked on a journey
towards reconstruction and peace. We have made significant progress
so far, but still have huge tasks ahead of us and today’s
generation must make sacrifices so that our future generations
will live in peace and prosperity.”
“With the strong will of the people of Afghanistan,
we embarked on this journey, and the international community
sent their sons to ensure our security. It is not shame that
today the international community builds schools, clinics and
roads for us.”
“Afghanistan was reduced to a pile of rubble
as a result of conspiracies and interferences in the past decades.
The people of Afghanistan sacrificed their lives during the
years of Jihad against the Russian invasion and brought the
USSR to its knees.”
The President expressed his regret at the unfortunate
death of a Canadian soldier in the province of Kandahar and
said “It is our duty to protect our freedom and territorial
integrity.”
“The enemies of Afghanistan kill our Ulemas,
engineers, doctors and teachers to ensure that Afghanistan remains
dependent on the assistance of the international community for
ever. The enemies of Afghanistan must understand that they will
fail in their attempt to destabilize our country.”
“Those countries who support terrorism in
Afghanistan must understand that they will inevitably suffer
the consequences of their action. Therefore, support for terrorism,
the burning of schools and killing of our Ulemas should not
be in the interest of countries in the region.”
“Schools are not burnt in other parts of
the world and our Ulemas and religious leaders voiced their
support for protection of our schools.”
Referring to the double standard by Ulemas of
Pakistan the President said “Real Islam says: The Good,
One Desires for Himself; He Must Desire That for His Muslim
Brother Too.”
“This is not Islam that your sons go to
school and your girls study in the UK, but our sons don’t
have the right to study.”
The President expressed confidence that Afghanistan
will make progress in all spheres and the living conditions
of the people of Afghanistan will improve despite these subversive
activities. Our enemies’ efforts will ultimately fail.
The President noted that Afghanistan’s national
income per capita increased from US$ 185 in 2002 to US$ 355
in 2006 and I hope this will increase to US$ 500 as mentioned
in my election manifesto.
The President expressed his commitment that the
Government will construct a power station over the Kunar River.
The President ordered the relevant authorities
to asphalt all road networks in the City of Asadabad. The construction
of religious schools is a top priority for the Government of
Afghanistan and we are committed to provide religious education
to our people. If we don’t educate our children in religious
subjects, it means that we have educated no-one in Afghanistan.
The President inaugurated a police station and
a school in the province of Kunar.
The President visited the Fatemia High School
and addressed a gathering of students and teachers.
The President exhorted girl students to rid Afghanistan
of dependence on other countries and to become doctors so that
the people of Afghanistan won’t be obliged to go to other
countries for treatment.
The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
has allocated US$ 1.7 million for construction of schools in
the province of Kunar.
The President visited the Rapid Reaction Force
in the province of Kunar and greeted most of the soldiers. The
President ordered the relevant authorities to look into their
needs.
While addressing the soldiers the President said
“You are doing your brave ancestors’ job who have
protected our independence over the course of our long history.
Your strong determination to fight terrorism assures the people
of Afghanistan that their sons will be able to study in peace.”
