Saleh: For the First Time in History, the UN Calls a Group “Stupid”

Kokcha News Agency: Amrullah Saleh, the former Vice President of Afghanistan, has responded to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s recent comments, in which he labeled the Taliban’s policies as “stupid.” Saleh noted that this is the first time in UN history that such strong language has been used to describe a group that controls a country.

Saleh emphasized that Guterres is a cautious individual who chooses his words carefully, making his use of the term “stupid” even more significant. In a statement on Wednesday, September 27, Saleh described Guterres’s remarks as the highest form of insult and condemnation.

The former Vice President also highlighted the Taliban’s exclusion from an emergency meeting of Islamic and Arab countries in Doha, stating that the Taliban have neither respect nor credibility in the Islamic world or international organizations. Saleh described the Taliban’s isolation as unprecedented.

During a press conference in New York on Tuesday, Guterres criticized the Taliban for not allowing women to participate in relief operations for earthquake victims in Kunar, calling their actions “not only intolerable but also stupid.”

Saleh, a staunch opponent of the Taliban, wrote, “I have repeatedly said that the current situation should be called ‘Talibanistan,’ and we must fight to restore and revive Afghanistan.” He stressed that all insults and humiliations are directed at the Taliban group, not the country of Afghanistan.

Saleh also clarified that a clear distinction must always be made between Afghanistan and the Taliban. He praised the “courage and understanding” of the UN Secretary-General and called on people to stand in solidarity with him.

Guterres has previously criticized the Taliban’s widespread restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education and employment, calling these policies a major obstacle to humanitarian aid and development in Afghanistan.