Taliban Official Mansour Calls Soviet Troop Withdrawal a Pivotal Moment in Afghanistan’s History
Mullah Abdul Latif Mansour, the Taliban’s Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, described the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan as a “glorious” and decisive event in the country’s history in a message commemorating the 37th anniversary of the withdrawal. He stated that on February 15, 1989 (26th of Dey 1367 in the Persian calendar), the last Soviet soldier left Afghan soil.
In a message posted on the social media platform X, Mansour congratulated the Taliban leader, cabinet members, security forces, the families of war victims, and the Afghan people on this occasion. He attributed the Soviet withdrawal to nearly a decade of war and what he termed the “jihad and sacrifice of Afghans.”
According to Mansour, the defeat of the Red Army marked the first such loss in the history of communism. This event not only led to the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan but ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. He claimed that the extensive sacrifices of the Afghan people, including the deaths of more than 1.5 million individuals, alongside the resistance of the Mujahideen, played a fundamental role in this outcome.
The Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development further emphasized that the Afghan struggle disabled the Soviet Union’s “modern war machine” and paved the way for the division of that country into 15 separate states. He added that regional and global countries should remember the fight and resilience of the Afghan people.
In the closing part of his message, Mansour stressed the importance of preserving national unity and supporting the regime. He urged Afghans to remain united to prevent, as he put it, any future foreign aggression. Meanwhile, several analysts believe that politically exploiting historical events without considering the contemporary demands of the Afghan people for political participation and fundamental rights cannot guarantee lasting stability in the country.
