H.E. Shahzad Gul Aryobee

Can you describe the situation that brought you from the Kabul government to the Prague embassy?

As I mentioned earlier, I was the minister for two years… and during that time, I had difficulties aligning with some major issues. I therefore submitted my resignation from the minister position. Our former President, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, nominated me as Ambassador and as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; however, it was I who selected the Czech Republic as the country of my tenure. I began my mission on 26 September 2019, and presented my credentials to Mr. Miloš Zeman, His Excellency President of the Czech Republic.

You have been in the Czech Republic for three years. What ties can you see that connect our two countries?

In the past, Afghanistan and former Czechoslovakia’s historical political and trade relations from 1928 laid the groundwork for the signing of a friendship agreement between the two countries. Czechoslovakia opened its political representation in Afghanistan in 1949, and on 24 July 1960 it upgraded these political representations to the level of embassies.

Recently, both countries had intensive cooperation in the air force and military sphere. I was pleased to see that both the Czech government and the private sector perceived Afghanistan positively. We were working on many economic and defense cooperation projects. Economic contact was already a long-standing tradition, with increased interest among Afghan officials and private entities to strengthen the positive trend in trade exchange. We envisioned that the trade could develop more robust and better relations. We found the Czech Republic to be a good market for dry fruits, organic crops, unique handicrafts, and the mineral resources of Afghanistan.

A high-level delegation visited Prague, and Afghan traders were ready to export products that meet the highest world and EU standards. Vice versa, Afghanistan could be an ideal place for technology, machinery, and investment from the Czech Republic.

I would also like to mention the fact that the Czech Republic trained 420 Afghan pilots in Pardubice, and that the Czech Army was a part of the ISAF forces and Provincial Reconstruction Teams. The Czech police forces had also been training their Afghan counterparts. Unfortunately, in August 2021, Afghanistan’s republican system dramatically collapsed, and our planned economic and defense cooperation and activities stopped.

What exactly is the current status of Czechia-Afghanistan relations?

For the last two decades, the Czech Republic has been actively involved in Afghanistan, both at the bilateral level and as a NATO member, contributing to development and security cooperation. Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan last year, no country in the world has recognized its government, including the Czech Republic. However, so far, the Czech Republic still has its Ambassador for Afghanistan based in Prague and has a humanitarian aid package for the people of Afghanistan. Sad to say though, Afghanistan is no longer among the Czech foreign-policy priorities. The Embassy of Afghanistan in Prague still represents the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, flies a three-color national flag, and I am the accredited Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Czech Government.

It has been almost a year since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan. How do you analyze the existing economic, security, and political situation in your country?

After one year, there is still no clarification on the country’s fundamental issues, such as the constitution, internal legitimacy, international recognition, and state structure. There is concern about the security situation, including the latest threats and attacks. The resurgence of ISIS-K and the resumption of the bloody war and blasts in Afghanistan are major concerns. Another concern is that the so-called second wave of resistance has already announced the activities of its anti-Taliban fighters. Another highly prominent issue is the economy. Afghanistan faces a development crisis. There is no basic plan for economic development that would allow for economic growth, employment, eradication of hunger, and provision of basic public services. Unemployment has risen, and people are frustrated. If we analyze the political situation, the fact is that the Taliban has made no effort for good governance and mutual accountability. They have not taken any steps to involve the people in decision-making, and have not provided a dignified life and environment for all individuals. The Taliban government has not yet gained internal legitimacy nor taken any concrete steps (towards one). They do not try integrating the available water management, mining, and trade resources. Some embassies opened in Kabul, the Taliban had engaged with the international community, and still has an office in Doha, Qatar, for dialogue.

What do you expect from the future and the world?

We have so many lessons learned in the last four decades; therefore, we must avoid repeating past mistakes. I believe that, through dialogue, there is a way for reconciliation and political settlement to reach a lasting peace and stability. At the same time, there is also an opportunity to prevent the country’s economy from collapsing, and from more violence occurring. If the government goes into isolation it will be impossible to save the country from civil war, and the country will once again become a center of terrorism and extremism.