Omar Dawoodzai, Afghanistan’s former interior minister, told Deeyar TV’s program “Wara” that relying on foreign countries to bring about change in Afghanistan is ineffective.
He emphasized that the Afghan people should reach a solution through traditional mechanisms, including the Loya Jirga, in a way that reflects the demands of all citizens.
Dawoodzai stressed that while maintaining good relations with any country is desirable, efforts should not be made to allow foreign interference. He described seeking political solutions for Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan as a mistake, arguing that nothing can be achieved from countries that have themselves failed in this regard.
The former official called Pakistan’s interference “one of Afghanistan’s sources of calamity” and warned that if such interference continues, the Afghan people “will not have a peaceful country.”
Dawoodzai said Pakistan seeks an Afghanistan whose system is “subordinate to and under the guardianship” of Islamabad. According to him, after the Taliban returned to power, Pakistan assumed that the “subservient system” it had pursued for decades had been realized and that the Taliban would take orders from Islamabad. However, he added, this perception proved false, and the Taliban resisted Pakistan.
He argued that Pakistan has failed to achieve its goals through the training of proxy forces in Afghanistan, because whenever these forces come to power, they prioritize “national interests.” He urged Pakistan to abandon this approach.
Dawoodzai also highlighted Afghanistan’s “rich capacities” and the need to utilize them. He said that during the republican era, Afghanistan should have encouraged the return of its diaspora, but failed to do so.
