بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Excellencies and Distinguished Speakers, Panelists, Moderators, Organizers, Guests and Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy as well as Women In International Security (WIIS) Italy for initiating and organizing this grand event. Today’s deliberations at this event were fruitful and inspiring. I would further like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our allies and partners, including to the Republic of Italy for all their sacrifices rendered both in blood and treasure in Afghanistan. Let me assure you as we cherish these sacrifices, they will be marked as immortal in the contemporary history of Afghanistan. At this juncture, my sincere appreciation also goes to Italy’s governmental and nongovernmental organizations for their active engagement in areas of humanitarian assistance and humanitarian evacuation in the last year and a half in Afghanistan.

Ladies and gentlemen,
The protection of girls and women’ rights as well as their empowerment is crucial in Afghan society. Hence, discussing and addressing their needs and concerns with indigenous and non-indigenous women peace builders, negotiators and mediators, especially with local Afghan women and the Afghan women diaspora is an integral part of the process through which, our citizens can achieve sustainable peace and security in the country.

Unfortunately, since the fall of the elected government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in August 2021, Afghanistan has further plunged into political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis, particularly as it relates to the violation of girls, women and minority rights in Afghanistan.

The current calculated discourse by the Taliban to erase women and girls from the public life in Afghanistan not only has revoked the liberties that Afghan women won through a history of struggle and activism, but also unraveled the gains made over the last two decades with the help of our international partners including Italy.

In order to avoid further deterioration of the girls and women’s situation as well as to deal with other crisis in Afghanistan, I strongly believe it is time for the international community, on one hand, to continue with their current engagement while further strengthening the role of active networks, synergy and coordination based on a wholistic approach that is Afghan owned and Afghan driven; on the other hand, we must become more realistic by toughening up our diplomatic approach in employing “Smart Power” to exert more pressure in order to promote Afghan owned and Afghan driven principled negotiations, where ethnic diversity and gender equality would be a pivotal part of it. Let me emphasize, any principled negotiation, which would be devoid of guaranteeing Afghan girls, women and minorities’ rights, would not be acceptable by the Afghan nation.

As it relates to your question as to how Italy can help Afghanistan? In view of the historical and fraternal relations that we have with Italy, where Italy was the first Western nation to recognize the Independence of Afghanistan in 1919 as well as Italy’s proactive role in especially in Herat in the last 20 years in Afghanistan, Italy can assist us as following:

Since August of last year, there has been an influx of Afghans to Italy, and most of these new comers are comprised of former civil servants, military and security officers, political activists, artists, academics and athletes; Italy can categorize them in various professional groups and utilize their expertise and experiences by bridging the gap between the Afghan diaspora here and the Afghans in Afghanistan. Additionally, Italy can play an important role in convening a Peace Conference by inviting the true representatives of Afghanistan from inside and outside the country to discuss and come up with way and means of starting a peace initiative in order to put an end to the current calamity in Afghanistan.

Lastly, let assure you all that we as a strong nation stand united and ready to assist and work in synergy with the international community to provide our know hows, networks and experiences in order to overcome the current challenges in my motherland, Afghanistan.

Thank you.