Mullah Hibatullah, the leader of the Taliban, has published an Eid message on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. This time, he has attempted to adopt a calm tone, unlike his previous messages that displayed defiance to the world, glorified war and martyrdom, and advocated for the Taliban’s adherence to their principles, including the enforcement of strict Sharia law and hostility towards the West. In this message, the Taliban leader has tried to mitigate the negative consequences of his previous messages, which sparked widespread global condemnation due to their medieval approach to governance, particularly regarding women’s rights and hostility towards the West. It is evident that the Taliban’s stance on women, citizens, and human rights remains unchanged, yet they intermittently endeavor to deceive the international community, portraying themselves as proponents of engagement and cooperation. Through this tactic, they seek to diminish international criticism of their governance style and lay the groundwork for the legitimization of their regime. However, despite these efforts, Mullah Hibatullah’s recent Eid message bears little difference from his previous ones and is also accompanied by paradoxes and deceptive lies
In his Eid message, Mullah Hibatullah stated that the Taliban are committed to their “promises and pledges” and seek to have good relations with other countries. Interestingly, while Hibatullah regards the Taliban regime as an independent and non-aligned military system, he also acknowledges accountability to the Americans. The Taliban’s commitment to the Americans was not to allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against American interests. However, numerous reports from international media suggest that various terrorist groups are currently present in Afghanistan, with Al-Qaeda’s activities increasing after the Taliban’s takeover, and multiple centers under their control in various parts of the country. The former Al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed by American drones in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, a heavily populated area of Kabul. Does the strong presence of Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan not imply that the Taliban have handed Afghanistan’s soil to America’s enemies and failed to fulfill their commitment to the Americans?
In recent days, drone surveillance over Kandahar and other provinces of Afghanistan has increased. Presumably, Mullah Hibatullah, considering this issue, has stated that the Taliban group wants countries around the world to pay attention to the “dignity, interests, and sovereignty of Afghanistan.” What the Taliban leader fails to address is that the dignity and interests of Afghanistan can only be secured if the governance system in the country changes. All citizens, regardless of ethnicity, language, or religion, must see themselves reflected in the political system, and the country’s economy must be managed by committed and competent individuals to create conditions for economic growth and wealth generation, enabling people to live prosperous lives without resorting to extreme measures for survival or becoming refugees in other countries, enduring various humiliations and miseries. In other words, one should not expect the world to uphold Afghanistan’s dignity and respect while its citizens lack dignity and respect in their land, with no conducive environment for dignified living, forcing them to either migrate to other countries due to economic hardships or endure as marginalized within their own country, reliant on global aid.
Another noteworthy point is that Afghanistan, as a vast landmass, does not have intrinsic value; rather, its significance is contingent upon the importance and credibility of its citizens. Impoverished, disenfranchised, and illiterate people cannot play a positive role in international relations; instead, they always burden others and thus do not command respect and dignity from others. Another issue is that Mullah Hibatullah should be asked to what extent he values the dignity and respect of the inhabitants of Afghanistan, given that he seeks from foreigners respect and dignity for this country. Currently, millions of people have either fled to other countries out of fear of the ruthless Taliban fighters or due to economic hardships, enduring the worst conditions. If Mullah Hibatullah truly cares about Afghanistan’s dignity and honor, as someone who holds the fate of the country in his hands, he should strive to create conditions where millions of displaced citizens are not forced to flee the country and become refugees.
In his message, the Taliban leader has stated that the “implementation of Islamic law” is a priority for this group. The problem in this regard stems, on one hand, from the Taliban’s rigid and medieval interpretation of Sharia law and Islamic laws, devoid of any flexibility, adaptation, or moderation. On the other hand, with the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s judicial and legal system, which was moving towards modernization, has been destroyed. Now, the Taliban’s judiciary and legal system are so ineffective and archaic that often the judgments of Taliban judges become a subject of ridicule. In such a poisoned atmosphere, talking about implementing Sharia law, justice, and ending oppression not only holds no meaning but also reflects the Taliban leader’s ignorance of daily realities. The Taliban’s judicial system is so tainted and antiquated that it is incapable of providing a proper definition of justice.