In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
August 15, the fifth anniversary of the transfer of power to the Taliban, marks a bitter and fateful event in the contemporary history of our country—an event that not only halted the process of state-building, democracy, and development, but also placed Afghanistan under the rule of a regressive, monopolistic group lacking national legitimacy, and plunged our nation into one of the deepest political, economic, social, and humanitarian crises in its history.
Today, five years later, Afghanistan remains captive to the Taliban’s repressive policies. Relying on force, the elimination of opponents, the monopolization of power, and disregard for the will of the people, the Taliban have driven the country toward international isolation, economic collapse, and widening social divisions.
The National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan and the Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan, while honoring the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for freedom, justice, democracy, and the independence of Afghanistan, and paying tribute to all victims of tyranny and extremism, hereby declare the following as their common positions:
First: We consider the rule of the regressive Taliban over Afghanistan to be the result of the imposition of force and violence, and therefore lacking legitimacy based on the free will of the people. The continuation of this situation is the primary cause of the ongoing crisis, instability, political isolation, and the endless suffering of the Afghan people.
Second: We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Taliban’s authoritarian, monopolistic, and repressive policies, including arbitrary arrests, torture, suppression of freedom of expression, silencing of independent media, exclusion of qualified professionals, creation of an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and deprivation of citizens of their most basic human rights.
Third: We strongly condemn widespread killings, extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and other serious violations of the right to life by the Taliban, of which credible national and international sources have repeatedly reported hundreds and even thousands of cases. The continuation of such actions constitutes a clear violation of human rights, the principles of justice, and international obligations, and contributes to the spread of fear and mistrust and the continuation of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We call for independent investigations, accountability for those responsible for these crimes, and an immediate end to these practices.
Fourth: We consider the Taliban’s repeated issuance of decrees violating human rights—particularly the deprivation of women and girls of education, higher education, employment, and participation in social and political life; restrictions on individual and civil liberties; and the systematic exclusion of women from public life—to be a blatant assault on human dignity and a clear violation of fundamental human rights. These policies seriously endanger not only Afghanistan’s present and future, but also the future of generations to come.
Fifth: We condemn with deep concern the intensification of policies of ethnic and religious discrimination. Open discrimination against Afghanistan’s ethnic communities, particularly the Hazara people and followers of the Shia faith, depriving them of equal citizenship rights, disregarding religious freedoms, and recent discriminatory practices are contrary to the principles of justice, national coexistence, Islamic values, and the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens. Afghanistan is the common home of all ethnic and religious communities, and no group has the right to discriminate among the country’s citizens on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or language.
Sixth: We express our deep concern over the expansion of terrorist groups’ activities in Afghanistan and warn of the threats arising from their presence. The continued activities of these groups pose a serious danger to the security and stability of Afghanistan, the region, and the world, while creating conditions for the further spread of extremism, violence, and insecurity. We emphasize the need for effective measures to prevent Afghanistan’s territory from being used by terrorist groups, to combat all forms of terrorism, and for responsible cooperation by the international community in addressing this common threat.
Seventh: We consider the country’s dire economic situation, which is a direct consequence of the Taliban’s ineffective and monopolistic policies, to be deeply alarming. The unprecedented spread of poverty and unemployment, economic collapse, closure of productive activities, decline in investment, increasing dependence on humanitarian assistance, mass migration of young people, intellectuals, and skilled professionals, and growing despair within society have placed Afghanistan at risk of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Eighth: We sincerely commend all freedom-seeking forces, national figures, resistance fronts, and all movements that, with a sense of national responsibility, have stood against the regressive Taliban and are struggling for freedom, justice, democracy, the preservation of independence and territorial integrity, and the dignity of the Afghan people. We regard their legitimate resistance as part of the natural right of the Afghan people to free themselves from tyranny and monopolistic rule.
Ninth: We proudly salute the courageous and inspiring struggle of Afghan women who, under the most difficult circumstances and despite threats, imprisonment, torture, and widespread pressure, have continued to defend the ideals of freedom, equality, and justice. Through their historic resistance, the women of Afghanistan have become the awakened conscience of Afghan society and a symbol of civil resistance against extremism and tyranny.
Tenth: We call upon the international community, the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, international human rights organizations, and all responsible governments not to remain silent in the face of systematic human rights violations, religious and ethnic discrimination, repression of women, arbitrary arrests, and the Taliban’s authoritarian policies. We further urge them to refrain from any action that could lead to legitimizing the Taliban.
Eleventh: We firmly believe that Afghanistan’s future can only be secured through the establishment of a political system arising from the free will of the people, based on elections, justice, the rule of law, equitable participation of all ethnic and religious communities, respect for human rights, preservation of national unity, and respect for human dignity.
Twelfth: We call upon all political forces, national figures, religious scholars, intellectuals, young people, women, civil society, and all sons and daughters of our homeland to preserve unity, solidarity, and cooperation, and to work responsibly and collectively to rescue Afghanistan from the current crisis, end tyranny, achieve justice, secure lasting peace, and establish an inclusive and democratic political system.
On the fifth anniversary of the fall of the Republic, we renew our commitment to the honorable people of Afghanistan that we will stand alongside them and spare no legitimate effort in pursuing freedom, justice, equality, national dignity, the protection of the rights of all citizens, and the building of a free, prosperous, independent Afghanistan founded upon the will of its people.
Long live a free, independent, united, and democratic Afghanistan.
National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan
Supreme Council of National Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan
August 15, 2026