My colleagues at the Afghan Embassy in Colombo join me in extending our best Eid-al- Adha wishes to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka, my fellow Afghans at home and abroad, as well as to the rest of the Muslim world that celebrate this sacred festival of the ultimate sacrifice for a higher purpose, for the greater good of humanity.

 

Over the past few decades, the Afghan people have sacrificed much to defend our freedom against tyranny and our homeland against aggression. As I speak now, Afghanistan’s brave armed forces are making the ultimate sacrifice, defending Afghanistan, our region, and the world against resurgent terrorism. Indeed, extremism has no place in Islam, a faith of moderation, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

 

This Eid-e-Qurban, it is unfortunate that the Taliban negotiators in Doha failed to join us in declaring a comprehensive ceasefire in recognition of the enormous suffering and pain, which the imposed conflict has inflicted on the Afghan people. But in Islam, it is never too late to make peace, to reconcile with your own people and others.

 

This Eid-e-Qurban, the Taliban still have an opportunity to shed foreign control and to give peace a genuine chance, foremost by ceasing violence and bloodshed of their suffering people. That is what Islam demands, that is what this Eid of self-sacrifice for the greater good of others means.

 

Once again, Eid-e-Qurban Mubarak from all of us at the Afghan Embassy in Colombo!

 

Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari 

 

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