Afghanistan Times
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“We will prove it to the world that Afghans are not terrorists, said Asfandyar Wali Khan.”
AT-KABUL: Ex-President Hamid Karzai said that Afghans are united, will remain united and none can divide them. He added that Afghans and the Pashtuns living on the other side of the Durand Line were being trampled by world powers for their evil goals.
Talking at a reference in the memory of late Pashtun nationalist leader Afzal Khan Lala on Saturday, Hamid Karzai said: “Under a well orchestrated conspiracy they want us divided, our education is under attack and to be unaware of our history.” He stressed that education and development requires struggle. “We had many prominent leaders in our history who fought for education and development in our region and now it is our duty to follow on their footsteps and liberate our people from the clutches of ignorance and intrigues,” he said.
The reference was organized by the Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs in Kabul and was attended by prominent Pashtun nationalist leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
Karzai said that no one can divide Afghans.
Karzai termed Afzal Khan Lala as a well-wisher of the Pashtuns and a prominent leader in the movement of nonviolence.
“Afzal Khan Lala wanted unity of Afghans and was concerned about the calamities of the people of Afghanistan and Pashtuns straddling on both sides of the Durand Line,” he said.
President of Awami National Party (ANP) stressed on restoration of peace in the region and said: “We will prove it to the world that Afghans are not terrorists.” Asfandyar Wali Khan said that it was the duty of every Afghan to work for peace and stability in the country.
The Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Muhammad Gulab Mangal, said that joint efforts from people in both sides of the Durand Line were required to bring lasting peace to the region. “We are faced with common problems, thus we should jointly work to find a solution to the challenges,” he added.
Afzal Khan Lala is considered as an emblem of resistance because when the Taliban captured Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he stood by his people and refused to leave. Khan Lala survived several assassination attempts by the Taliban militants— and died on 1st November, 2015.
