Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan and a senior member of the Resistance Council for Salvation, has called for the creation of a government-in-exile during a virtual meeting of Afghan political figures.
Speaking at an event held in honor of “Martyrs’ Week,” Dostum urged Afghan leaders and political figures to reach a consensus on the formation of such a government.
He emphasized that the leadership of the government-in-exile should be someone capable of challenging the directives of Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Dostum also criticized the Taliban’s rise to power, claiming it was the result of a “deal,” and urged Afghanistan’s neighboring countries to refrain from signing trade agreements with the group. He predicted that the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan would be “short-lived.”
The former Afghan warlord warned political leaders not to rely on foreign support. “We must learn from past mistakes, accept each other, and come to an agreement,” Dostum said, adding that warlords should use their experience to confront the Taliban.
Dostum also noted that ethnic groups such as the Uzbeks and Turkmen have changed and are no longer the same as they were 50 years ago. “These groups have proven themselves in both politics and war,” he claimed, adding that without them, “nothing would be possible.”
The Afghan leader stressed that autocracy and isolationism would not benefit anyone, acknowledging that past political strategies were flawed. He urged Afghanistan’s political figures to learn from these experiences and plan for the country’s future.
