KABUL, Afghanistan — Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, called for “national unity” during a gathering of Shiite citizens in Kabul, asserting that they view Afghanistan’s ethnic diversity as a “symbol of national cohesion.”
The event, titled “Preserving National Unity and Supporting the System,” was organized by the Taliban-affiliated High Commission of Shiite Affairs and took place at the Loya Jirga Hall, according to a Taliban statement.
In his remarks, Baradar criticized Afghanistan’s political history, arguing that the country had been “wrongly divided into political factions,” which, in his view, had weakened national unity on key issues.
“As a result, no meaningful national unity has been achieved in Afghanistan so far,” he said, stressing that solidarity was essential for the country’s political and economic development.
“Nations that maintain internal unity and cohesion have easily achieved great goals,” he added, reiterating that “Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans.”
Baradar’s comments come as concerns persist over the Taliban’s treatment of Afghanistan’s ethnic and religious minorities. Rights groups and international organizations have accused the Taliban of discriminating against certain communities and restricting religious freedoms.
Critics contend that the Taliban-led government is dominated by officials from a single ethnic group, raising fears of political exclusion. Meanwhile, the observance of Ashura, a major religious event for Shiite Muslims, has faced increasing restrictions under Taliban rule over the past three years.
Taliban have also banned the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, removing it from Afghanistan’s official calendar.
