In a sombre Nowruz message today, the President of Pakistan highlighted the plight of regional populations greeting the spring amidst conflict, while sharply criticising the “illegitimate Taliban regime” in neighbouring Afghanistan for depriving its people of the ancient celebration.
While extending greetings for the festival, the President noted that for many in the region, the season of renewal now opens amid the “debris of damaged schools and hospitals”. He painted a stark picture where “spring flowers in some Nowruz regions are covered with falling debris and blood” and the scent of gunpowder overpowers that of traditional festival flowers, leaving many families facing loss and uncertainty.
The President offered special greetings to the people of Afghanistan, expressing his hope that this Nowruz would “bring the end of their long night of darkness and doom”.
Historically observed for centuries across Iran, Central Asia, and parts of South and West Asia, Nowruz heralds the arrival of spring. The festival signifies the turning of the year in the natural cycle, symbolising renewal, rebirth, and the victory of light over darkness.
Reflecting on the occasion within Pakistan, the President acknowledged the nation”s diverse range of cultures and faiths. He stated that the various community festivals add to the national character and that this diversity “remains one of our shared strengths”.
Concluding his message on a note of optimism, the President expressed his hope that the “war clouds will burn away” and that the occasion would ultimately bring peace, stability, and hope to all those celebrating the festival.