Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of the National Islamic Movement Party, declared that the suffering of the people of Afghanistan will soon end, and a transitional government inclusive of all ethnic groups will be established.
“Rest assured,” he said, “we will successfully overcome these hardships together.”
Dostum warned that the United Nations and other international bodies are fully aware of the Taliban’s “inhuman practices, oppression, and corruption,” and that the group “will soon be held accountable for every one of its crimes.”
The former vice president branded Ashraf Ghani a “traitor and sellout,” blaming him for facilitating the Taliban’s return to power.
In a statement posted to Facebook on August 15, Dostum described the fall of the republic as orchestrated “behind closed doors by a handful of corrupt and treacherous dealmakers who deceived the world and the people of Afghanistan.”
He called August 15, 2021, the “darkest day” in the country’s history, saying it erased hard-won achievements paid for with the blood of thousands of soldiers. According to him, the country is now ruled by those who “seized power through violence” and were long opposed to its progress.
Dostum condemned the collapse of the republic as a “disgraceful deal” that led to the banning of girls’ education and forced millions to flee the country in fear.
He accused the Taliban of discarding the national constitution and imposing a “law of the jungle” that has no connection to Islam.
The influential northern leader said that every day—especially in the northern and central regions—people’s homes and lands are being seized, women’s dignity is violated, and families are forcibly evicted to make way for people with “unclear identities.”
He also reported the continued torture and imprisonment of innocent citizens.
According to Dostum, the Taliban have lied to both the people of Afghanistan and the world, suppressing the truth and creating an environment so restrictive that even the media are unable to report on these realities.
