Amrullah Saleh, Afghanistan’s former Vice President, has said on the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power that Afghanistan remains an “unresolved issue” in the eyes of its people and the international community, and that the country’s current situation cannot be regarded as that of a normal nation-state.
In a statement posted on Saturday, August 15 (24 Asad) on the social media platform X, Saleh wrote that Afghanistan remains an “unresolved case” in the eyes of its people and the international community. He added that, contrary to Taliban propaganda, the prevailing atmosphere in Kabul and other Afghan cities is not one of celebration and joy, and that people do not feel the need or inclination to hold anniversary celebrations.
Referring to events marking the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, the former vice president said that in Kabul, apart from the Taliban, a large segment of the population does not feel that the current circumstances provide the necessary atmosphere or sentiment to celebrate the occasion. He described the prevailing situation in the capital as being more akin to an atmosphere of mourning.
Saleh wrote: “The atmosphere is one of mourning, not celebration.” He added that if people are not mourning the end of the republican system, then they are mourning what he described as “a national loss.” His remarks come as the Taliban have marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power with official programs and ceremonies.
Saleh also claimed that over the past five years, the Taliban have spent approximately 50 billion Afghanis on public works and development programs, but that, according to him, expenditures related to the group’s repressive policies have been at least 20 times higher. He provided no specific details or documentation to substantiate this claim.
The former vice president called on the Taliban to publicly and transparently disclose their budget and expenditures. He alleged that such disclosures would show that the Taliban’s primary priority has been strengthening the “apparatus of repression and the livelihoods of militias,” rather than ensuring public welfare and developing Afghanistan.
In another part of his remarks, Saleh referred to the Doha Agreement between the United States and the Taliban and alleged that the Taliban returned to power as a result of a “deal.” He called on the Taliban, if they reject this allegation, to publish the details of the agreement’s secret annexes. He provided no further evidence or details in support of the claim.
Saleh concluded by describing the Taliban’s current system of governance as “anti-national” and predicted that it would ultimately collapse. He wrote: “The fall of the Taliban is only a matter of time, not a question of if or whether.”
His remarks come as Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, had previously assessed Afghanistan’s situation after five years of Taliban rule as better than many had anticipated in 2021. The differing views expressed by former officials reflect the broader disagreement over the consequences of five years of Taliban rule and the country’s political future.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
