Waizzada Behsudi, a prominent Shia cleric, has called on the Taliban to foster relations with the international community and neighbouring countries while embracing Afghanistan’s diverse ethnic groups. He warned that without such efforts, the group would struggle to succeed.
Speaking at a gathering in Balkh province, Behsudi urged the Taliban to welcome Afghanistan’s ethnic communities. Addressing worshippers at the Sarwar-e-Kainat Grand Mosque, he specifically appealed to Pashtuns, whom he described as the “elder brothers,” to embrace other ethnic groups, including Hazaras, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and others. He emphasised that no single ethnic group can withstand global and regional challenges alone.
“If we have the people with us, we have everything,” Behsudi stated, urging the Taliban to establish diplomatic ties with regional and global powers. He stressed, “Without ties with the region and the world, we cannot make progress.”
The cleric also called for the establishment of a national administration, arguing that without such an entity, Afghanistan cannot resist external threats. “We must have a national ideology, a national voice, and national movements,” he added.
Behsudi urged the Taliban to respect the customs, traditions, religion, and culture of the Afghan people and to transition from an interim administration to a fully recognised national government. He stated, “If we have a national government, the world cannot exclude, humiliate, or ignore us.”
According to him, national unity, mutual acceptance, and solidarity are now more critical than ever for Afghanistan.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has faced accusations of monopolising governance and excluding ethnic and political groups, particularly women and minority communities, from government institutions. The group has replaced many officials with its own members, drawing criticism for its lack of inclusivity.
However, the Taliban dismisses international calls for an inclusive government as foreign interference, insisting that its administration already represents all Afghans.
