لراوبر ویب پاڼه لراوبر يو افغان – تازه خبرونه
Since the term of president Karzai is coming to an end and fresh election is expected to take place in August 2009 for electing a president for the next term has attracted the attention of local, regional and international players. In the recent days lots of proposals and personal opinions are expressed by people from different walk of life ranging from politicians, intellectuals and of-course the warlords who are striving to once again have a larger share in the new setup. I respect their opinions but at times one can feel that majority of them in their deliberations serve the purpose of foreigners but not the Afghan nation. They are just trying to safeguard their existence no matter if it costs the blood of many more innocent Afghans. Others who want to point out their opinion in a realistic way are either not heard or are afraid of being harassed by the power mongers and possibly labeled as so called anti democracy element, thus they just change their course or indulges themselves in favoritism.
One of the burning issues in the Afghan context is the president Karzai’s terms extension beyond May 2009. I don’t really think this will really matter if he stays or quit because the situation will go from worse to extreme worse. And no one can guarantee that by appointing another personality (who will surely be one of the criminals) for three months will miraculously change the current security posture and corruption in the system. I strongly believe that the situation will be further exacerbated and the bloodshed will continue unabated. This political mingling is just to divert the attention of the Afghan people from the core issues of curbing terrorism, corruption in the government, endeavoring a reconciliation process and development. And more importantly to enter to a dialogue with the international community to finally forgive the Afghan nation for the crime they have never committed and convince them to withdraw their forces from Afghanistan that is the key factor for peace process. I know many people will argue and fear that immediately with the withdrawal of the international forces from Afghanistan the government will collapse and the country will be once again indulged in the internal conflict. The masters of the internal conflict during 90ees that claimed the precious lives of 65000 innocent dwellers of Kabul city along with the collateral destruction of the capital city and other important military installations and government entities of Afghanistan are still at large. I share the same feeling but timetable for the withdrawal of the invading forces from our beloved country should be discussed in the broader international but more importantly Afghan context. A thorough and honest homework needs to be done for withdrawal of international invading forces. This should be coupled with other political, military/security and development strategies once again I insist in the Afghan contexts are put in place. This will eventually open the door for reconciliation with the opposition and trust building among the Afghan society.
Dr. Najeebullah who happens to be famous for torturing and killing the Afghans while he was leading the intelligence organization of the Soviet backed communist regime become one of the respected president among the Afghans due to his reconciliation program. I remember even in the camps in Pakistan we used to listen to all his speeches broadcasted from radio Kabul. He failed because the wests as well as the soviets were whole heartedly not backing him and the process to bring about peace in Afghanistan. The opinion of the honest and intellectual Afghans were never heard and disregarded. The UN peace plan was sabotaged and ethnic minorities were organized, armed, supported militarily and financially by various international players. Finally the people were divided and the country’s infrastructure destroyed many more innocent people killed, terrorism was imported and established its nest that affected badly the Afghans physically and its status in the international community. As the Afghans alarmed the international community of its (terrorism) affects and dangers, has finally on 11 September 2001 engulfed in its flames the very secure cities situated thousands of miles away from Afghanistan. This alarmed the international community and hurriedly marched their troops to deal with the extremely dangerous enemy. But this international juncture of force and might has once again repeated its past mistake by not listening to the Afghan nation but to the criminals and rejected ones in the Afghan society. The consequences of the mistakes made by the American led coalition are severe and the Afghan nation suffered the most. The Afghans are the one who suffered the most not only from the terrorism but also the war carried out by coalition forces and other parties involved in the conflict.
I think we (I mean Afghans and international community) are in a very crucial and important crossroad where we have to make the right choices and learn from our mistakes and not to repeat them again. This can only be possible to forget the past and start with new vision of really and honestly helping the peace process by listening to the Afghans and supporting the Afghan solution and Afghan approach which also safeguards the regional and international player’s interests. We the Afghans and international community has shared interest and that goes parallel which can be achieved through mutual understanding and honest approach.
Immediate actions to be considered that will pave the way for long term solution of the Afghan quagmire are to:
Afghans :
a. Call for an emergency Loya Jirga (warlords free) to decide on the important, national and international affairs i.e. interim government, mechanism for reconciliation and a call for the withdrawal of the international forces.
b. Establish a caretaker (criminal and warlords free) government for at least one year composed of technocrats, honest and hardworking Afghans (all new faces).
c. Extensively invest on and purify from warlords influence all the ministries but particularly judicial and the triangle Defense, Interior and intelligence components of the government by reinstating the existing professional cadres.
d. Stabilize the government employees’ salaries and eliminate dual system of payment.
e. Fight corruption across the board in the government with powerful judicial backing (establish special courts) to punish the responsible without fear and any prejudice or favoritism.
f. Carryout a number of development projects more visible and beneficial that helps the government in generating income and creating jobs i.e. power and agriculture dams, health, education, roads and industries.
g. Extensively and honestly engage in the reconciliation with the armed opposition groups and neighbors of Afghanistan.
h. Chalk out a strategy for the warlords and those served in the corrupt Karzai government to stay away from participating in the political activities for certain period of time (10 years).
i. Carryout across the board voluntary and forced disarmament of irresponsible armed gangs.
International community :
a. Support the interim government financially and in its efforts in the political/reconciliation, security and development spheres.
b. Generously support the government financially and to chalk out a financial support strategy at least for the next 5 years.
c. Table a timetable for a peaceful withdrawal.
d. Extensively support with growing the number of the Afghan army, police and intelligence department and by equipping, arming and providing necessary trainings.
e. Systematically withdrawing international forces from areas where the national army and police takes over.
f. Halt all military activities inside Afghanistan but to defense and increasing it cross border operations to destroy the bases and networks in the neighboring countries.
g. Exert extreme pressure on Afghanistan’s neighbors to stop harboring and accommodating international terrorism networks and Afghan opposition groups on its soil. Countries other than neighbors should also be pressured to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
h. Unconditionally releasing all Afghan political and war prisoners and announcing the closure of all foreign Jails.
Implementing the above measures will definitely help in building the confidence of the Afghan people on the government and international community at large. Moreover majority of the fighters will join the reconciliation process and those opposing peace will lose their credibility among the local population that will contribute to their failure. This will also pave the way for a lasting peace and establishment of cordial relation with international community and neighbors where the interests of all parties Afghanistan, its neighbors and the international community will be guaranteed.
I sincerely hope that a lasting peace and stability is restored in Afghanistan and in the entire world.
