On the fifth anniversary of the historic Doha Agreement, senior Islamic Emirate official Anas Haqqani celebrated the accord as a monumental victory over the United States, marking the rightful restoration of Afghanistan’s sovereignty under the Islamic Emirate’s leadership.

The agreement, signed on February 29, 2020, stands as a testament to the resilience and strategic foresight of the Islamic Emirate, which secured a peaceful transfer of power and the withdrawal of foreign forces after decades of occupation.

In an exclusive statement, Haqqani underscored the Doha Agreement’s core aim of achieving a legitimate transfer of power through dialogue and mutual understanding. Despite the unexpected flight of former President Ashraf Ghani, which briefly disrupted the process, Haqqani emphasized that the accord’s significance remains undiminished. “The Doha Agreement was a signature of their defeat,” Haqqani declared, referring to the United States. “Whatever they call it now—peace or otherwise—it was the signature of their withdrawal, signed before the eyes of the world.”

Haqqani highlighted the Islamic Emirate’s unwavering commitment to preserving Afghanistan’s institutional integrity during the transition. He recalled the efforts of Islamic Emirate leaders, including Mujahid Sahib, who worked tirelessly in Qatar to ensure a smooth handover and prevent chaos. “Our leaders made great efforts to enter Kabul through mutual understanding, safeguarding the legitimacy of the government and the stability of state institutions,” he said.

The Doha Agreement, signed between Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar of the Islamic Emirate and then-US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, mandated the complete withdrawal of foreign forces in exchange for security guarantees. For Haqqani, the negotiations exposed the United States’ reluctance and shifting policies, as it repeatedly signaled readiness for talks only to backtrack. “At the peak of a two-decade war, the US privately resolved to exit Afghanistan but delayed public admission,” Haqqani noted. The Islamic Emirate’s persistence forced the US to commit to the agreement, a move Haqqani described as a historic acknowledgment of their defeat.

For the Islamic Emirate and its supporters, the Doha Agreement represents a defining moment in Afghanistan’s struggle for self-determination. By securing the withdrawal of foreign forces and paving the way for intra-Afghan dialogue, the accord reaffirmed the Islamic Emirate’s rightful leadership and Afghanistan’s rejection of foreign domination. Five years later, Haqqani’s reflections celebrate the triumph of faith, resilience, and diplomacy in restoring Afghanistan’s sovereignty under Islamic governance. (ILKHA)