KABUL - Interior Minister Noorul Haq Ulumi on Tuesday urged the Taliban to get rid of slavery of neighbouring countries, particularly of Pakistan, and instead work for their own country’s development.

Addressing a gathering on the eve of Afghanistan’s 96th Independence Day in Kabul, Ulumi said that now it was now the right time for the Taliban to renounce violence and take part in the country’s development affairs.

“Mullah Omar’s death was kept secret in order the Afghan government’s opponents continue their illegitimate war. The Taliban should learn a lesson from it and should understand that outsiders are reaping the benefits of the war in Afghanistan,” the interior minister said.

He said the government was ready to embrace those Taliban who were willing to renounce violence and warned that if they continued violence, the Afghan security forces would vanquish them.

The minister congratulated the Afghans on the occasion of Independence Day and gave away medals, appreciation certificates and increments to a number of Interior Ministry officials in recognition of their good deeds.

Praising King Amanullah Khan, who earned Afghanistan independence from the Britain on August 19, 1919, Ulumi urged his ministry officials to be brave like him in preserving the country’s independence.

The celebration of the Independence Day that falls on August 19 had been lukewarm in recent years, but this time the government has the intention to celebrate the day with full zeal and fervor.

The Afghan Independence Day is celebrated to commemorate the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. The treaty granted complete independence from Britain; although Afghanistan was never a part of the British Empire. The British fought three wars with Afghanistan. (Pajhwok)