The National Supreme Council of Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan condemns the recent attack on two members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. While this crime constitutes a terrorist act, it is at the same time an individual act and must in no way be interpreted as a collective responsibility of an entire nation. It is unacceptable under any moral, legal, or political principle to hold a nation one that itself has been a victim of terrorism for years accountable for the violent behavior of a single individual.
Experience shows that such tragic incidents are not exclusive to the United States; Europe has also witnessed similar acts on multiple occasions. Therefore, reacting hastily toward an immigrant community is not only unjust but also fails to address the core problem.
The Supreme Council once again emphasizes that the solution to combating terrorism does not lie in restricting immigration cases. The true roots of terror and violence lie within the terrorist networks operating in Afghanistan under the rule of the tyrannical Taliban group—a group that has turned Afghanistan into a safe haven for terrorist factions and has enabled the export of violence beyond Afghanistan’s borders. Many extremist behaviors around the world are inspired by the very terrorist structures that, over the past years, have been strengthened within the Taliban’s circle.
The Supreme Council expresses its deep concern regarding the U.S. position to immediately suspend the processing of all immigration applications from Afghan citizens. Such decisions could drive thousands of innocent and vulnerable Afghans who have escaped the grip of the Taliban into a new humanitarian crisis.
President Trump’s recent remarks—describing the Washington shooting as a terrorist act and calling for a review of the process of admitting Afghans, as well as referring to Afghanistan as a “hellhole on earth”—further heighten our concerns. From the perspective of the Supreme Council, the reality is that the Taliban and their regional supporters have turned Afghanistan into a hellhole on earth, not the Afghan people, who are themselves the first victims of this oppressive and terrorist structure.
Therefore, we call on the new U.S. administration and all its global allies to:
Draw a clear distinction in immigration policies between the oppressed Afghan people and the tyrannical Taliban group; Avoid punishing victims instead of perpetrators; And, based on an understanding of on-the-ground realities, refrain from any policy that may inadvertently strengthen the Taliban or weaken the defenseless citizens of Afghanistan.
The National Supreme Council of Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan, as a broad political umbrella at the forefront of the struggle against terrorism and despotism, stands ready for constructive cooperation with all international partners to find fundamental and sustainable solutions to counter the terrorist threats emanating from Taliban rule.