Today, Tuesday, August 19, marks the 106th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from British rule, achieved on this day in 1919 under the leadership of King Amanullah Khan. The Soviet Union was the first country to formally recognize Afghanistan’s independence.
This day has traditionally been celebrated widely during republican eras, and even under the Taliban, it is officially recognized as Independence Day and observed as a public holiday.
In a statement issued on this occasion, the Coordination Council of Afghanistan’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions declared: “For over a century, this victory has served as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of our compatriots. It stands as proof of what is possible when we unite around a shared national purpose.”
Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council, also extended his congratulations, while stressing the need for a shift in the country’s current trajectory. “Either we accept the present conditions,” he said, “or we must collectively adopt a new national, regional, and international approach to alter the direction Afghanistan is heading.”
