Dear readers,
Since the collapse of the Taliban’s regime, Afghanistan has started a transitional journey to join the family of nations as a secure, prosperous, progressive and democratic nation, after three decades of war, aggression and oppression.
In this arduous journey, we have made history almost in every field, from rebuilding our state institutions to creating a vibrant civil society, which includes the circulation of over 700 independent media outlets, to our double digit GDP growth since 2001.
Besides, the number of school students has been raised to 7 millions. In addition, 75000 students have joined 22 universities in late 2009. Access to primary health care services has grown to the 85 percent as well across the country.
Liberating and progressively empowering Afghan women constitutes one of our highest and proudest achievements.
In today’s Afghanistan, women are no longer invisible in public space or confined to an inhuman status that was imposed upon them by the Taliban’s fundamentalist policies.
However, there remain formidable challenges in overcoming the legacies of three decades of aggression and oppression and consolidate our fragile achievements. Afghanistan remains threatened by the menaces of terrorism, drugs, weak state institutions and growing socio-economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment.
Only by pursuing a comprehensive and long-term strategy, adequate resources and more importantly strategic patience, we can restore Afghanistan’s position to its rightful and historical place in the international community as a catalyst for regional cooperation and a model of peaceful coexistence of different cultures and traditions.
To this end, the continuing solidarity and support of the international community remain pivotal. Amid significant challenges from residual anti-democratic and meddling forces, our young democracy counts on the support of the like-minded groups and individuals.
 
Dear Afghans,
I am happy that I am, today, here to serve you and to help you. My goal is to serve my country, and this goal will be achieved by my objective, to serve my country, to serve you. I am passionate about my work, my people, and my country. This passion does not only help me, help you but also help us go towards a stabilized and a developed Afghanistan. The last but not the least, I would like to ask you all to be with me in completing my mission of making friendly bridges between Afghanistan and all the world.

Sincerely yours,

Manizha Bakhtari
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan