Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has warned that Afghanistan is standing at a crossroads between survival and destruction, saying the country has reached the “edge of collapse.”
In an Eid al-Adha message, Ghani said the world waited nearly five years to see what changes would emerge in Afghanistan, but that period of waiting is now ending in disappointment.
He stressed that Afghanistan has become isolated in an unprecedented way and said many countries now view Afghanistan not as a neighbor, but as a security threat.
“Even those who were willing to give the ruling group a chance are now openly saying that terrorism threats are emerging from Afghan soil,” Ghani said.
The former president argued that the Taliban’s lack of international recognition reflects a “crisis of legitimacy.”
“Legitimacy cannot be imposed by force or claims. Legitimacy is granted by the people,” he added.
Ghani also accused the Taliban of ignoring the deep social and psychological changes that have taken place among the Afghan population.
In another part of his remarks, he referred to his six-month absence from public media appearances and said, without naming any country or group, that he had been prevented from speaking publicly.
“During this time my voice did not reach you, but my heart was never distant from you even for a moment,” he said.
The former Afghan president, who currently lives in the United Arab Emirates, has previously criticized the Taliban and Afghanistan’s current situation in his “Way of Life” podcast.
Ghani also described the Durand Line as a “colonial border” and warned that if Afghans remain indifferent, others will make decisions on their behalf.
He called for the start of a genuine national dialogue, saying: “The time for discussing alternatives has passed. Now is the time for choice.”
At the end of his message, Ghani asked: “What have we achieved in nearly five years? What price have we paid? And if this situation continues for another five years, what will the consequences be?”
