The fundamental problems of Afghanistan
by
İMRAN KHAN

However Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of Canadian Task Force Afghanistan, has denied this and said: “We’ve taken casualties that we haven’t before. But if you listen to what the Taliban are saying they’re talking hundreds and multiple attacks. These are two separate instances, widely dispersed. It is a spike in casualties, obviously. But again certainly I am not convinced that we are seeing a spring offensive.’’

So if Col. Mike is right and the so-called “spring offensive” has not yet started but still Canada can suffer so many casualties within a few days, what would the situation be if the Taliban starts a “spring offensive”? Certainly, as it looks, it would bring more violence and death for many others also.

The question always in mind is why things are getting worse with every passing year in Afghanistan? Taliban rule was over in 2001 and one would have thought that with the passage of time the situation would become normal. On the ground the opposite is true and instead of getting better the situation is deteriorating. But why?

The answer to this question, if you ask the Afghan government, is because of the Taliban’s cross-border infiltration from Pakistan and their neighbor not doing enough to stop it. They even accuse Islamabad of being a friend of the Taliban. But for many experts who examine the situation in great detail, these are false claims and tactics to hide their own great mistakes. Of course that is a problem, but the core problems are within Afghanistan and not outside. The Taliban are getting stronger in Afghanistan and there are continuing fights between them and coalition forces in the provinces near the Iranian border, so how did they reach there?

The democratic government of Afghanistan has a new constitution, new laws for the betterment of Afghans, but has not been able to practically implement it and that is the real problem. The situation for poor Afghans is as bad as it was in the past. Though there is a central government in place, much of Afghanistan is under the brutal rule of warlords, who are part of the government but make their own decisions in their areas. Injustice and high corruption levels are not making things easier and many Afghans have voiced their frustration. The Afghan government receives millions of dollars of aid and, in many cases, instead of this money being used for the welfare of the people it ends up financing the opulent lifestyles of the warlords.

One must never forget how the Taliban came into force in Afghanistan. When the Russians left in 1988, there should have been peace and the government should have worked for the common good of Afghan citizens. But it was not the case and for many years warlords fought against one another to rule and no one thought about the people. The lack of justice led to the creation of a Taliban movement that eventually took the whole country. Their rule is also over now, but unfortunately the new government has not learned the lessons of the past.

If people are joining the ranks of the Taliban in Afghanistan then there are various strong reasons behind it. When nothing is happening favorably for the people they will think of extremism, and whoever takes advantage of that is another thing. For example Afghan truck drivers complain about police and checkpoint officials asking for money illegally, and in many cases the drivers have provided services to the Taliban for their movements to different locations. It is a tiny example, but the very big lesson is hidden in how people can change their minds if they are forced to do something like that.

A recent poll found that 60 percent of Afghans said that the US-backed government was more corrupt than the Taliban. The Taliban are tying to take advantage of the situation and say that under their rule there was no corruption and rule was equal for all.

So the problem is very simple and clear, the Afghan government should bring changes in their ranks to help poor people instead of making life difficult for them. Countries like Canada and others should show their concern for these fundamental issues as they also suffer the consequences of the situation.

Coalition forces are also aware of these events but their emphasis is mainly on military assistance to the Afghan government. Recently Canadian Defense Minister Gordon O’Connor said, on the issue of widespread Corruption in Afghanistan: “If we see it, we report it to the governor or the President. But it’s their sovereign country.”