Former Vice President of Afghanistan and leader of the National Islamic Movement, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, has released a video statement expressing deep concern over the current situation in the country and announcing the preparation of a new political and military strategy.
In the video message, Marshal Dostum praised the courage of the youth in Andarab and Panjshir and urged them to maintain unity and solidarity. He revealed that he is working with Haji Sahib Ahmad also known as Ahmad Massoud and other key leaders on a comprehensive plan, the results of which will soon become visible. He said that the current situation will not remain in favor of the enemy and that positive changes will be seen soon.
Criticism of Taliban Leadership
Abdul Rashid Dostum strongly criticized Taliban leader Mullah Fazl during his address, calling him unfortunate. He claimed that Mullah Fazl has unlawfully occupied public lands and stated that a time will come when he will be handed over to the people of northern Afghanistan.
Concerns Over Demographic Changes
Marshal Dostum also warned about alleged demographic changes in the region, stating that a plan is being made to settle millions of unnamed migrants in Balkh, Tashqurghan and other northern areas. Addressing his Tajik, Hazara, Aimaq, Turkmen and Uzbek brothers, he said that their history, culture and language would disappear and urged them to stand against what he described as an impending disaster before it is too late.
Rejection of Ethnic Bias
In his statement, he clarified that he is not an enemy of any nation and considers Pashtuns as brothers. He recalled that he had voted for Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani to become presidents, but raised questions about the intentions of the current rulers.
Strategy Formation
He indicated that Yunus Qanooni and other political allies are finalizing their strategy to address future challenges. This video statement comes at a time when various reports of resistance movements in northern Afghanistan are circulating in the media.
