Afghanistan is all set to have election on Thursday 20th of August 2009 amid rising tension and violence all over the country. This is second election since US and NATO toppled Taliban Government in 2001. Under 2001 Bonn agreement Afghan Presidential elections were to be held in the 2004 but were held in the middle of September 2005 in which the current incumbent Mr. Hamid Karzai was elected President overwhelmingly. This time Mr. Karzai has a tough time in the elections though observers consider him favourite with Mr. Abdullah Abdullah Ex-Foreign Minister of Afghanistan following him.
The things in Afghanistan have turned bad to worst rather than showing any improvement. The incidents of killings, sucide bombings, landmines are not now localized in the Kandhar area but the areas which were considered highly secure due to heavy deployment of foreign and afghan troops like Kabul have repeatedly been brought under suicide bombings. There was a myth that Mr. Karzai rule extends only upto Kabul but this myth too has been turned untrue due repeated attack of Taliban bombers last of which was few days on Nato headquarters which has shaken the security apparatus. The extent of violence has expanded even to the areas like Herat.
Mr. Karzai has failed to gain anything after being incharge for last more than eight years. Law and order situation is at the lowest level. Afghan civilians are dying in greater numbers in the violence committed by both Taliban and coalition forces. The casualities of foreign troops have also risen to the highest level with July 2009 taking the highest toll of all these years. Corruption is ruling the roost. The production level of drugs including heroine has reached all time high. The rule of Afghan Government is within the circumference of Kabul rest Khuda hafiz ho tera ghalib. No considerable achievement has been made on the development front. Unrest is growing among the Afghan people against foreign occupation due to excessive human rights violation which includes indiscrimate bombings on civilian targets including marriage parties and funerals. Besides, night searches, disrespectful frisking and other issues have badly marred the position of coalition forces and Afghan Government. There have been no fruitful efforts to end the political deadlock between Government, Coalition forces and Taliban. There were reports of meetings with the moderate elements of Taliban in Saudi Arabia which bore no fruits because those who are commanding and controlling the Taliban in the battle field were not invited. Though Mr. Obama, US President and Mr. Miliband, British Foreign Minister both have recently urged to talk with the moderate Taliban but nothing substantial appears on the ground. Gravest failure on the part of coalition forces has been that they have not been able to harm any top leader either of Al Qaeda or Taliban during this whole eight year bloody war. The latest operation of coalition troops in Taliban stronghold also seems to have gone into thin air. There are fears the elections seem to be more gruesome because Taliban have threatened to disrupt the elections and have warned more violence. They have urged Afghan people to boycott the elections.
Mr. Karzai had promised a lot in the previous elections and now too in a recent debate with his opponents he has promised to make coalition troops answerable to the Afghan Government. They will not be authorized to carry on any night searches and any operations carried out by them will have to have prior sanction of Afghan Government. He has also promised to reach out to Taliban to find a lasting peace in Afghanistan. This has to be seen whether the promises made by Mr. Karzai will be adhered to, whether he will be able to impress US and its allies on the mission to reconciliation and operativibility of forces has yet to be seen, if elected for a second term.
The people of Afghanistan are desperate for peace and in view of its history, wars have never been successful in Afghanistan, reconciliation seems to be the only way, out of this quagmire. There is a need to engage Taliban, not so called moderate fellows who have no say in the command and control mechanism of Taliban, Mr. Mullah Omar and Taliban Shoura (leadership council) needs to be reined in for talks. They being the natives of Afghanistan have a role and right to decide the future of Afghanistan. Hope Mr. Karzai and others contenders would have learnt lot of lessons from the past failure and whosoever is elected will chose the path of peace and reconciliation.
The things in Afghanistan have turned bad to worst rather than showing any improvement. The incidents of killings, sucide bombings, landmines are not now localized in the Kandhar area but the areas which were considered highly secure due to heavy deployment of foreign and afghan troops like Kabul have repeatedly been brought under suicide bombings. There was a myth that Mr. Karzai rule extends only upto Kabul but this myth too has been turned untrue due repeated attack of Taliban bombers last of which was few days on Nato headquarters which has shaken the security apparatus. The extent of violence has expanded even to the areas like Herat.
Mr. Karzai has failed to gain anything after being incharge for last more than eight years. Law and order situation is at the lowest level. Afghan civilians are dying in greater numbers in the violence committed by both Taliban and coalition forces. The casualities of foreign troops have also risen to the highest level with July 2009 taking the highest toll of all these years. Corruption is ruling the roost. The production level of drugs including heroine has reached all time high. The rule of Afghan Government is within the circumference of Kabul rest Khuda hafiz ho tera ghalib. No considerable achievement has been made on the development front. Unrest is growing among the Afghan people against foreign occupation due to excessive human rights violation which includes indiscrimate bombings on civilian targets including marriage parties and funerals. Besides, night searches, disrespectful frisking and other issues have badly marred the position of coalition forces and Afghan Government. There have been no fruitful efforts to end the political deadlock between Government, Coalition forces and Taliban. There were reports of meetings with the moderate elements of Taliban in Saudi Arabia which bore no fruits because those who are commanding and controlling the Taliban in the battle field were not invited. Though Mr. Obama, US President and Mr. Miliband, British Foreign Minister both have recently urged to talk with the moderate Taliban but nothing substantial appears on the ground. Gravest failure on the part of coalition forces has been that they have not been able to harm any top leader either of Al Qaeda or Taliban during this whole eight year bloody war. The latest operation of coalition troops in Taliban stronghold also seems to have gone into thin air. There are fears the elections seem to be more gruesome because Taliban have threatened to disrupt the elections and have warned more violence. They have urged Afghan people to boycott the elections.
Mr. Karzai had promised a lot in the previous elections and now too in a recent debate with his opponents he has promised to make coalition troops answerable to the Afghan Government. They will not be authorized to carry on any night searches and any operations carried out by them will have to have prior sanction of Afghan Government. He has also promised to reach out to Taliban to find a lasting peace in Afghanistan. This has to be seen whether the promises made by Mr. Karzai will be adhered to, whether he will be able to impress US and its allies on the mission to reconciliation and operativibility of forces has yet to be seen, if elected for a second term.
The people of Afghanistan are desperate for peace and in view of its history, wars have never been successful in Afghanistan, reconciliation seems to be the only way, out of this quagmire. There is a need to engage Taliban, not so called moderate fellows who have no say in the command and control mechanism of Taliban, Mr. Mullah Omar and Taliban Shoura (leadership council) needs to be reined in for talks. They being the natives of Afghanistan have a role and right to decide the future of Afghanistan. Hope Mr. Karzai and others contenders would have learnt lot of lessons from the past failure and whosoever is elected will chose the path of peace and reconciliation.
By Hamid Nilnagi
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