Rangin Dadfar Spanta, former Afghan Foreign Minister, marked Afghanistan’s 106th Independence Day by declaring that the country has only ever enjoyed complete political independence during the reign of King Amanullah Khan (1919–1929). He described that era as a time of “grandeur and brilliance,” contrasting it sharply with today’s reality, in which “the most reactionary and primitive group now rules the country.”
Spanta’s remarks reflect longstanding debates over Afghanistan’s sovereignty—especially during the Soviet occupation and the era of international military intervention.
While the anniversary of independence was celebrated with great fanfare during the republican period, the Taliban marked the day this year with a modest gathering in Kabul, conspicuously omitting the national tricolor flag associated with Amanullah’s modernist legacy.
Several politicians from the former republic shared messages on social media. Former President Hamid Karzai congratulated the public on the occasion and renewed his call for national unity and the reopening of schools and universities for girls. He stressed that national reconciliation is essential to prevent foreign interference.
Mohammad Hanif Atmar, the last foreign minister before the fall of the republic, said: “For any free nation, independence means the right to self-determination, the reflection of people’s will in political leadership, and the guarantee of fundamental human rights. Unfortunately, the current regime has stripped our people of that right.”
Atmar urged the Taliban to respect the people’s will and highlighted that lasting peace and coexistence depend on safeguarding the basic rights and freedoms of all citizens, women and men alike.
