Date: 24/11/1403

Press Release: Visit of the Esteemed Amir al‑Mu’minin to Kandahar University
For the first time, His Excellency Amir al‑Mu’minin, Sheikh al‑Qur’an wal‑Hadith Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada (may Allah protect and preserve him), the Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, visited Kandahar University yesterday afternoon, where he delivered a comprehensive address to the university’s leadership, professors, staff members, and students.
At the beginning of his remarks, His Excellency spoke about the value of knowledge and the importance of both religious and modern sciences. He advised the professors and students to purify their intentions solely for the sake of Allah and to use their knowledge for the benefit of religion and the people.
Addressing the faculty and students, he said:
“Professors and students, acquire both religious and worldly sciences, and keep your intention focused on serving the religion. You hold a highly respected position in society. Students of madrasas, schools, and universities are looked upon with honor, and people expect service from you. Foreign invaders have come to this country several times and were defeated. Now, praise be to Allah, Afghanistan progresses freely under the light of an Islamic system.”
His Excellency further added:
“I urge you to document the history of your heroes, fighters, and martyrs, and introduce it to the world. The mujahideen, with Allah’s help, liberated the country under extremely difficult circumstances. Now it is your turn: work hard so that with your knowledge and expertise, Afghanistan may join the ranks of developed nations. Let foreigners come here to learn from you, and let your knowledge guide the world.”
He emphasized that Afghanistan is the shared home of all its citizens and that every individual holds an important place within the Islamic Emirate. He stated that the Islamic Emirate has goodwill toward the people, and that both educational institutions madrasas and universities form a single unified body whose support and protection is a collective responsibility.
His Excellency added that the Islamic Emirate has provided all necessary facilities for the advancement of education. He said:
“We instructed the Ministry of Higher Education to pay foreign professors whatever amount is necessary so they can come teach in Afghanistan’s universities and professionally train the country’s youth.”
He also urged participants to work for unity, cohesion, and the progress of the country, and to serve the nation with sincerity.
His Excellency stated that all decrees are issued in consultation with distinguished scholars, derived from the Qur’an and Hadith, and represent the commands of Almighty Allah.
It is worth noting that this gathering took place in the Grand Mosque of Kandahar University and was attended by a large number of students, professors, and staff members.

This entry records a rare public address by the Taliban leader to a university audience, articulating the ideological framework governing higher education under the Islamic Emirate. While framed in affirmative terms around knowledge and development, the speech explicitly subordinates both religious and modern sciences to service of religion, positions educational institutions as instruments of the Islamic system, and affirms that all decrees derive from Qur’an and Hadith as divine command. The address signals the consolidation of ideological oversight over universities, the fusion of religious and higher education, and the expectation that academic work serve regime narratives, including the glorification of jihad and martyrs.