Mufti Latifullah Hakimi, Chief Inspector of the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense, has said that Pashto and Dari are both official languages of Afghanistan, but only Pashto should be considered the country’s national language.
Speaking in an interview with Shamshad TV in Kabul, Hakimi addressed the ongoing debate over Afghanistan’s linguistic status and rejected the description of Pashto and Dari as two national languages.
According to Hakimi, both languages have official status and can be used in government and public affairs. However, he argued that the term “national language” should apply exclusively to Pashto.
“Dari and Pashto are official languages, but the national language is Pashto,” Hakimi said during the interview.
His remarks have added to an already sensitive debate over language and national identity in Afghanistan. Pashto and Dari have historically played major roles in Afghanistan’s political, educational and cultural life, while both are widely spoken across different parts of the country.
The issue of language has also generated differing reactions among Afghan political figures, academics and language experts, particularly over the interpretation of previous constitutions and the legal status of the two languages.
Hakimi’s statement could further fuel discussion over the role of Pashto and Dari under the Taliban administration, particularly as authorities continue to shape Afghanistan’s institutional and educational policies.
The comments also highlight the broader question of how Afghanistan’s linguistic diversity will be represented in the country’s future political and administrative framework.