Muttaqi urges engagement, says Afghans won’t compromise on religious values — Pajhwok

Kabul (Pajhwok): Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi says the Afghan people have two fundamental principles—religious values and the protection of their territory—which they will never compromise. He called on countries that have not engaged with the Islamic Emirate over the past five years to reconsider their policies and adopt a policy of engagement. The remarks came at a ceremony held today in the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul to mark August 15, the day the previous government collapsed in 2021 and the Islamic Emirate returned to power. A number of other officials also addressed the gathering, stressing Afghanistan’s independence and security and calling on opponents not to attempt to create war and insecurity in the country. Addressing the ceremony, Muttaqi said Afghans had never accepted foreign occupation of their country and had always defended their homeland. He said the time had come for the government and the people to jointly defend their religion and homeland. “This nation has two very strong principles, two values that it has never abandoned and never will,” he said. “The first is religious values, for which it will sacrifice its life and wealth, endure hardships and migration, and remain in the trenches. The second is the protection of its homeland. Under no circumstances will it surrender even an inch of its territory to anyone,…