In a fiery statement released Thursday, former President Ashraf Ghani said Pakistan has not only launched recent military strikes on Afghanistan’s territory but also seeks to impose a “forced political change” in Afghanistan.
Highlighting what he described as ominous signs, Ghani warned that the country is at a precarious turning point in its history.
“There are indications that Pakistan may once again resort to violent tools to impose political change on Afghanistan,” he said. He added that the country is entering one of its most sensitive historical phases, and cautioned that outside interference must not be allowed to determine Afghanistan’s future. “The citizens of Afghanistan must decide their future themselves,” he declared, rejecting any external imposition on national destiny.
According to Ghani, the future of the country should rest on legitimacy and public consent, as well as the guarantee of rights and freedoms for both women and men. He urged a legitimate and transparent engagement with the international community. “Our common vision as Afghan citizens should distinguish us from external actors,” he said.
He warned that without national unity, new attempts at bloodshed could plunge Afghanistan into fragmentation. The country, he argued, stands at a crossroads: either it moves toward development and peace, through national consensus, or it becomes once again a battlefield for regional power struggles.
Referring to recent events, Ghani condemned the airstrikes carried out by Pakistan on Monday in eastern provinces, which the Taliban claimed resulted in civilian casualties — including children and women. He called the strikes “an undeclared war from across the Durand Line,” and argued that for decades people on both sides of the border have paid the price for such violence.
“No political problem can be solved by military means,” he asserted. Military responses, he said, only deepen the crisis and transform it into a “vicious wound.”
He further called for a comprehensive, regional approach to counterterrorism — one that moves beyond short-term cease-fires or temporary agreements. He urged collective regional cooperation, warning that fleeting deals cannot provide sustainable peace or stability.
The former president pointed to a confluence of destructive trends — forced expulsions of migrants, successive earthquakes, and repeated cross-border attacks — that have left Afghanistan in a condition far more fragile than in the past. These developments, he said, compel immediate and effective action.
“The right to peace must be restored to the Afghan people,” Ghani concluded. He insisted that sustainable peace is the foundation for legitimacy, security, economic development, and the overall well-being of the Afghan people.
His statement comes days after Monday night’s airstrikes in three eastern provinces, including Khost, where UNAMA confirmed that at least 10 civilians were killed.
Taliban said the airstrikes were carried out by Pakistan. However, the Pakistani army has not confirmed such airstrikes.
Taliban and Pakistan have faced unprecedented tensions over the past few months that have led to the closure of major border crossings in the past 50 days. This is the second time in a week that the former president, Ashraf Ghani, reacts to the recent tensions with Pakistan.
