Message on the Victory of the Struggling and Muslim Nation of Afghanistan

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

When the victory of God has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of God in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.

With a heart full of praise and gratitude to God and with endless hope in divine grace and mercy, I sincerely congratulate the brilliant victory of the brave and devoted Muslim nation of Afghanistan to all of that dear nation, especially to those who, throughout this continuous jihad, placed their lives or the lives of their loved ones in danger on the relentless battlefields against the invading enemy and endured the indescribable hardships of that long period, and also to the honorable families of the esteemed martyrs of that bloody jihad.

I also congratulate the great nation of Iran, which throughout the struggles of Afghanistan stood by that brotherly nation, shared in their grief and suffering, and welcomed them with open arms in the Islamic homeland, and to the great Islamic Ummah, which has suffered from the calamities of this blood-soaked member, on the liberation of the Afghan country and nation from the clutches of foreigners and foreign-worshippers, and I send greetings to the pure soul of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) who foresaw this day and awaited it until the end of his noble life. Now, undoubtedly, a new era in the history of Afghanistan has begun, and the ground is prepared for the complete liberation of that country and nation from the burdensome effects of the past. Now, the Afghan nation, especially the active and struggling elements and the honorable political officials of that country, stand at the beginning of a difficult and critical path that can only be successfully traversed with reliance and trust in Almighty God, adherence to divine decrees, reliance on the people, utilizing all national capacities and capabilities, and vigilance against the plots and influence of the enemies, and God willing, they will achieve the lofty goals of Islamic pure life and material and spiritual growth and progress.

In these circumstances, where everyone is obliged to sincerely fulfill their divine responsibility to achieve this great purpose, I remind all Afghan brothers and sisters, especially those who have been granted the opportunity to accept great responsibilities on the path of the Afghan nation, of the following points:

1. The jihad of the Afghan nation and the endurance of the hardships of the struggle were for Islam. No other factor could have made this faithful nation so steadfast and resistant against the pressures of the communist regime and its puppet and the former Eastern superpower. The result is that today the establishment of an Islamic government in Afghanistan is the only response to the long jihad of the Afghan nation. In the future government and constitution, all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that God's decree and Islamic law are implemented in that country.

2. The Afghan nation, composed of various ethnicities and sects, achieved victory through the participation and cooperation of all. Now, in order to successfully traverse the path of independence and reconstruction and achieve its goals, unity of word and cooperation among the various ethnicities and sects is essential, and this unity must be solely centered on Islam. The various sects and tribes should heed the divine call "And hold firmly to the rope of God all together and do not become divided," and strengthen their unity more than ever. There are hands at work to intensify ethnic and sectarian prejudices and incite conflict among Muslim brothers or Afghan ethnicities. These hands belong to the enemies of Islam and the enemies of Afghanistan and, God willing, must be cut off with the vigilance of the people and officials.

3. You, the faithful and valiant Afghan nation, have tasted the bitter taste of foreign influence and interference in your country in recent years and have endured its great losses. Now, the world-devourers and arrogant powers are seeking to opportunistically use the situation to their advantage and impose their influence and domination on you. All, especially the honorable officials and leaders of various groups and parties, must prevent the influence of the enemies of Islam and the agents of global arrogance in the new system of that country with utmost diligence and not allow, God forbid, the place of the vanished Eastern superpower and its agents to be taken today by the American superpower and its agents, and the blood of the martyrs of the path of freedom to be wasted. The honorable preachers, writers, and other Afghan intellectuals should constantly remind their nation of this great danger and prepare them to confront the complex stratagems of global arrogance.

4. In these sensitive and exciting days, unfortunately, factional and party conflicts among brothers have clouded and darkened the dawn of victory and overshadowed some urgent duties. I hope these important duties are not neglected:

A. Attending to the wounded and victims of the Kabul incidents.

B. Attending to the needy and downtrodden classes.

C. Ensuring the security of people's lives and property and preserving the sanctity of homes.

D. Establishing order and preventing clashes between individuals and armed groups.

E. Assisting skilled and capable individuals in launching public services such as water and electricity, etc.

F. The general effort of the people - including workers, farmers, craftsmen, and other essential occupations - to restore the normal flow of life and provide public necessities, especially food for the people.

5. In conclusion, I request all governments and international organizations, such as the International Red Crescent - especially Islamic governments and Muslim nations worldwide - to assist the nation and honorable officials of Afghanistan and help facilitate the affairs of life in these difficult weeks and the first days of freedom for that Muslim nation with their gifts.

I pray to Almighty God for the greatness of Islam and Muslims and their victory over their enemies.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings

Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Twelfth of Ordibehesht, one thousand three hundred and seventy-one