October 16, 2003
AFGHANISTAN: INSTABILITY REIGNS IN WAR-RAVAGED
NATION
KEY FINDINGS
** Two years on,
analysts stand divided over the progress made in Afghanistan.
** Unable to restrain
warlords or eradicate the Taliban, President Karzai is "losing
credibility."
** Conflicting American
policies, Iraq and the U.S.' "loss of interest" exacerbate
instability.
** Expansion of ISAF
outside of Kabul is a "significant step" towards restoring stability.
MAJOR THEMES
Afghanistan: An emerging democracy or a 'field of terror'?-- Analysts judged that "frenetic
activity" against terror in Afghanistan has done little to "diminish
insecurities." The reemergence of
the Taliban, explosion of poppy production and the weak central government
demonstrate how "far away" Afghanistan is from "the path to a
modern state." A Pakistani outlet
claimed that the "miserable" Afghan people recall "the Taliban
era fondly." Afghanistan's governent-funded
Anis dissented, highlighting the nation's transition from
"backwardness to advancement and prosperity."
Afghan writers warn that the nation is nearing a
'precipice'-- Afghan observers
remained divided on the progress made towards reconstruction. Critics asserted that warlord rivalries
outside Kabul threatened to turn the nation back into a "field of terror,
horror and harshness." Corruption,
red tape, and "ethnic, racial, linguistic, and religious
discrimination" are undermining the Karzai government from within,
according to Pashto-language Hewad.
Conversely, pro-government papers trumpeted the diminishing influence of
"non-democratic politics and the rule of might" and blamed
"foreign [read: neighborly] interference" for continued violence.
U.S. 'wishful thinking' and 'ignorance' make reconstruction more
'daunting'-- Contending that the U.S.
is "in a hurry" to leave Afghanistan, a Russian commentator branded
Mr. Bush's recent request for $800 million for Afghan reconstruction
"peanuts." Others argued that
an Iraq "fixation" has diverted American money and attention away
from Afghanistan, and "so estranged" other nations that garnering
international support for reconstruction will be difficult. According to Pakistan's centrist News,
the U.S. policy of simultaneous "confidence" in anti-Taliban warlords
and support for the Karzai government is working at
"cross-purposes," and has yet to produce "the slightest sign of
improvement."
ISAF expansion demonstrates NATO's new 'willingness'-- European writers billed ISAF expansion an
important indication of NATO's commitment to reconstruction, but some remained
skeptical whether democratic precepts can be instilled in Afghanistan's
"clan society." Germany's
left-of-center Berliner Zeitung criticized Germany's deployment to
"quiet" Kunduz; centrist Der Tagesspiegel judged the force
insufficient to confront "opponents to peace." Another commentator characterized deployment
as an effort to "avoid a decision on Iraq."
EDITOR: Andrew Borda
EDITOR'S NOTE: This
analysis is based on 44 reports from 12 countries, October 4 - 16, 2003. Editorial excerpts from each country are
listed from the most recent date.
EUROPE
BRITAIN: "Conflict,
Complacency And Confusion On Global Security"
Philip Stevens maintained in the independent Financial Times
(10/10): "Most of the present
threats to global security can be traced to the complacency of the
1990s.... To fret now about the nuclear
ambitions of North Korea and Iran is to be reminded of the nonchalance that
greeted the accelerating nuclear programmes of India and Pakistan.... Afghanistan was left during the 1990s to the
Taliban and al-Qaeda. Saddam Hussein was
allowed to flout the will of the international community. After the initial promise of peace in Oslo,
peace in the Middle East was pursued sporadically. Western leaders acted decisively in the
Balkans only when the television images of ethnic slaughter became too much for
their voters.... America and Europe were
both culpable in their indifference....
The world since September 11 has seen complacency give way to frenetic
activity. America and its coalition of
the willing have fought two wars in as many years.... Yet the substitution of activity for inertia
has done little to diminish the insecurities.
Al-Qaeda has been badly disrupted and the Saddam regime defeated, but
still missing is any sense that the world's biggest nations can agree on what
constitutes a coherent global security system.... The war in Iraq increasingly seems as much a
symptom as the cause of the present transatlantic discord. Mr. Bush's unilateralism collides with
Jacques Chirac's search for a new balance of power. Tony Blair's vision of a world directorate of
the strongest nations does not explain how Washington is to be persuaded to
exchange hegemony for leadership.... For
all its division of the world into pliable friends and sworn enemies, the U.S.
cannot establish a new world order alone....
As for Europe, its devotion to the rule of law ultimately depends on a
capacity to uphold it with force.... The
new threats do not allow for a neat global security system borrowed from
history's textbooks. The dangers are
diverse, complex and asymmetrical....
The 1990s were lost to complacency.
We will all be losers if the succeeding decade is lost to
division."
FRANCE: "The U.S. Army
Lacking In Resources"
Jean-Dominique Merchet wrote in left-of-center Liberation
(10/10): “The world’s number one army is
short of personnel.... The situation is
forcing Washington into some diplomatic and military changes. Because it does not want to give in on the
essential, namely the transfer of power in Iraq, the U.S. is trying to get its
allies--mostly France--to be more involved in other theaters of operation, such
as Afghanistan and the Balkans. In a way
Washington is sub-contracting military interventions which it considers
secondary, in order to concentrate all of its resources on Iraq.”
GERMANY: “Silent Expansion”
Thomas Kroeter judged in left-of-center Frankfurter Rundschau
(10/16): “While members of parliament
and the public are debating how much sense the deployment of German forces to a
further ‘island’ in Afghanistan makes, the government is declaring the whole
country German operational area.... But
is this decision the end of a political debate whose participants are aware of
all its implications? As a disciplined
coalition partner, the Greens leave it up to the CSU to ask for the
‘uncertainties’ of the expansion of the Bundeswehr mandate. The no by the FDP wanting to make its mark is
one thing, but a responsible debate another....
The way the government is trying to sell the really new aspects of this
new mandate in passing does not really hint at a good conscience. There was much talk of politicians only being
bound by their conscience lately. Now
the free members of parliament have the floor.”
“After Kundus”
Center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine commented (10/15): "The plan to establish bases all over
Afghanistan from which military pacification, political stabilization and
economic reconstruction are to spread demonstrates the willingness to start the
reorganization of the country in practice.
The road map for the framing of a constitution and political reforms in
Afghanistan...which took on an air of increasing ghostliness because outside
Kabul’s city limits no one was really interested in it, could now gain a new
momentum. However, doubts about whether
these ideas can be implemented in a clan society geographically and ethnically
divided are fuelled again and again by bloody fights between regional warlords
and their private armies, which show how far away the path to a modern state in
Afghanistan is. This means also that the
situation in the ‘pacified’ areas can change abruptly--with all the risks they
entail for the foreign help, be it military or civilian.”
"Selling Of Indulgences At The Hindukush”
Center-left Sueddeutsche Zeitung of Munich judged
(10/15): “The German government was
right to hesitate when the idea of a regional reconstruction team was
born. What would a few hundred soldiers
be able to achieve? To topple the
provincial princes and their militia? To
collect taxes for the central power? To
enforce resolutions from Kabul? Berlin
chose Kundus in the North as post, because relatively little conflict is to be
expected there--at the moment at least.
But what is the long-term strategy?
Where is this effort supposed to go?
In the business of peacekeeping, it is difficult to make
predictions. Maybe the mere presence of
soldiers will suffice to provide more security to this country on its thorny
path. But in the German case, one can't
help thinking that the deployment decision was made in order to avoid a
decision on Iraq--selling of indulgences with soldiers. They at least would have had the right to be
informed about the strategic reflections on the deployment in North
Afghanistan. This is something the
Bundestag will now discuss--after the decision has been made.”
"Black Afghan"
Damir Fras opined in left-of-center Berliner Zeitung
(10/15): "The Bundeswehr mission is
to contribute to the speeding up of the reconstruction in Afghanistan and the
political stabilization of the country.
This can be done--at least theoretically. For as a precaution, the German government
chose as location for the deployment of its soldiers in what is in Afghanistan
a quiet area. The warlords have close
ties to the Afghan Minister of Defense Fahim and therefore leave the central
government of President Karzai’s interim government alone, as long as it
doesn’t interfere in its business dealings.
As long as the Bundeswehr soldiers do the same, they will be
welcome. German Defense Minister Struck
takes pains to affirm that the fight against drug smuggling and the cultivation
of poppy is not the main task of the Bundeswehr commando in Kundus. But when a truck loaded with dope passes a
German patrol, he will have to go to great trouble to explain why the soldiers
do not intervene. One thing is clear
already today: every Bundeswehr soldier is dependent on the goodwill of those
Afghans who only wish to cultivate their black Afghan [poppy] in peace. This makes the German mission really
unpredictable.”
"Limited Liability"
Christoph von Marshall opined in centrist Der Tagesspiegel
of Berlin (10/15): "The UN mandate
by which German politicians are so impressed leaves the opponents of the Karzai
government, the provincial warlords, cold.
The German ISAF Commander in Kabul, Goetz Gliemeroth, warned of an
increasing danger of attacks, even in already stabilized regions.... [At the border to Pakistan] solid peace
troops would be urgently needed. But no
one wants to expose its own soldiers to the risks. Generally speaking, the scope and equipment
of ISAF are not sufficient to confront the opponents to peace. It will not improve when NATO will assume
command before long. The concept is
adjusted to the spare resources.
Combined reconstruction teams of soldiers and technicians are sent to
half-pacified regions in the hope that over time the stabilization will spread
to unpacified regions. This may succeed
and is certainly better than waiting in Kabul for the failure of the entire
Afghanistan mission. But the risk that
the peace opponents gain the upper hand in the end is high. Therefore, a UN mandate does not offer
protection. It does not render one
invulnerable.”
“In The Quiet North”
Center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung judged
(10/10): "For months, the public
has been worried by reports on fighting in Afghanistan with remnants of the
Taliban. What is really alarming is
recent news from the north of the country...where the warlords Rashid Dostum
and Mohammad Atta have clashed near the town of Mazar-I Sharif. It is reported that about 80 people were
killed in heavy fighting.... Both sides
support the central government. The
more frightening is the outbreak of violence in a region, which up to now has
been regarded as calm and safe.... The
British are currently caught in the line of fire. In not so distant Kundus, the Bundeswehr will
possibly provide similar reconstruction help.
But what if the present calm there turns into violent combats?”
"Major Overhaul”
Klaus Frankenberger commented in center-right Frankfurter
Allgemeine (10/7): "As later
corrections are better than none at all, the White House finally assumes the
reigns of coordination for Iraq and for Afghanistan, where remnants of the old
regime still wreak havoc. Before the
war, Washington displayed a lot of expertise, but as the Pentagon saw this as
unwelcome competition, nothing came of it.
It is for this reason too that the situation is so unstable. It would be good if by centralizing control,
which is an admission of previous shortcomings, an end would be put to wishful
thinking permeated by ignorance and a know-it-all attitude, which is not
reassuring, does not set reconstruction in motion, brings no stabilization to
the region--and for which America will have to pay dearly.”
“Condoleezza Rice's New Role”
Frank Herold commented in left-of-center Berliner Zeitung
(10/7): "Condoleezza Rice
interpreted her role as National Security Advisor very differently from Henry
Kissinger or Zbignev Brzezinski. The two
men saw themselves as super-secretaries of state, defense and intelligence,
hardly any less powerful than the President himself. Ms. Rice preferred to remain in the
background. She did not seem to want to
be anything different than what her title says: an advisor for her boss, who
holds back in public. This was not being
modest, but wise, since she was able to keep her reputation as the most
brilliant personality in the President's environment. No matter how many foreign and security
policy failures there were--and there were many in the recent months--the
responsibility was always with others: Messrs. Powell, Rumsfeld or Tenet. This will now change.... The appointment [of Condoleezza Rice] is the
clearest admission by the President, that something is going very wrong in both
countries [Iraq and Afghanistan]. Bush
needed to mobilize Rice, because he knows that you can't win elections with
successes in Iraq or Afghanistan, but that you can easily lose them with
continued failures."
RUSSIA: "The U.S. Loses Interest In Afghanistan"
Vladimir Berezovskiy opined in official
government Rossiyskaya Gazeta (10/15): "Obviously, the Americans
are in a hurry to phase out their operation, having no interest in Afghanistan
anymore. The $800 million President
George Bush has requested for Afghanistan is quite indicative. It is peanuts for a country that has been
'bombed back into the Stone Age.'"
NORWAY: “New Suffering for Afghanistan”
The newspaper-of-record Aftenposten commented (10/10): “One of the most difficult tasks in the
laborious work to restore Afghan society is to bring the unruly warlords under
military control. For too long they have
made their living by the sword, fighting each other as well as the Taliban. The Taliban is far from dead, and their
attacks are a hindrance to economic and political developments in the south and
the border area against Pakistan.... For
this reason it is important that NATO as well as other countries expand the
area under ISAF control.... This is a
necessary task that must be carried out in parallel with the civil work to
rebuild Afghanistan.”
“From Kabul”
Christian-democratic Vaart Land commented (10/8): “NATO has
decided to increase the alliance’s presence in Afghanistan beyond that of
Kabul, but will do so only after a new mandate from the U.N… By signaling a
more long-term engagement, not only limited to the Afghan capital, NATO has
taken a step in the right direction. It certainly won’t solve all the problems,
but it gives new hope.”
EAST ASIA/PACIFIC
THAILAND: “Afghanistan Addicted To Drug Profits”
The top-circulation, moderately conservative, English-language Bangkok
Post stated (10/10): “The United States invaded Afghanistan two years ago
to rid the country of the Taliban leadership and bring about a resemblance of
peace to a country which had suffered over two decades of almost random
violence. It has been only partly
successful. The lead up to the Oct 7
anniversary saw the most bloodshed spilt since the overthrow of the Islamic
militia, with more than 300 people killed since the start of August.... People on the ground, namely aid agencies,
reported this week that narco-terrorism was by far the main cause of violence
in the provinces, and not the Taliban or al-Qaida. Afghanistan produced 12% of the world’s opium
in 2001 under Taliban rule. Last year,
it produced 76%. The country director of
the charity CARE said this week that revenue from the poppy trade amounted to more
than all the humanitarian assistance combined.... The warnings of the aid agencies seem to be
falling on ears only wanting to hear about the squashing of an already
decimated Taliban and an al-Qaida forced into hiding. It is imperative that all of Afghanistan’s 32
provinces come under the control of the central Kabul government as quickly as
possible. The longer this is not the
case, the more difficult the task will become.”
SOUTH/CENTRAL ASIA
AFGHANISTAN: "People Will Vote For Those With Ideas For
Development"
Government-funded Anis declared (10/15): "People will no longer vote for those
who carry arms and authority. They will vote for those who have ideas on how to
develop Afghanistan.... It should be
said that former military-political regimes must completely change their
policies and acquaint themselves with the new rules in the country. Otherwise it will be they who will be the
biggest losers in the Afghan political contest."
"New Elections Are Prerequisite For Ending Warlord Rule"
The government-funded, weekly Kabul Times commented
(10/15): "Now that we have got a
law to organize the activities and the functioning of political parties, we
expect the situation to improve considerably.... The law has taken into consideration many
contingencies and all in all, it is a liberal law.... It is a good prerequisite for putting an end
to the widespread rule by warlords....
The party that wins the majority in the elections will form a
government. Compared to the present
coalition set up, in which every mojahedin organization grabbed a few
portfolios, this government is expected to produce a concerted style of
action."
"Afghanistan's Officials And The Rejection Of Coalition
Government"
Kabul's Farda editorialized (10/12): "The fact is that the current ruling
authorities of Afghanistan are suffering a sort of mental dispersion and
confusion.... After the collapse of the
Taliban, the warlords who had fled to the mountains and deserts once again
availed themselves of the opportunity, moved toward the cities and occupied key
government positions. In this way, they
considered and declared their occupation of these offices as a victory against
the Taliban! From the other side, we
should not accept that the emergence of Mr. Hamed Karzai in Afghanistan's
political arena was based on tribal, national, or democratic roots, therefore,
we cannot give him the credit for leadership of the country. In the same way, we cannot name him for any
achievement in balancing the political and military powers of the country,
because during the last two years of his government Mr. Karzai has been unable
to win the support of even 10 Afghans to serve him as bodyguards instead of
American forces.... Now that the
dominance of non-democratic politics and the rule of might is day by day
diminishing in the country, people like Mr. Hamed Karzai have also started
considering the acceptance and application of democratic principles as
worthless and trivial. Despite these
facts, the people of Afghanistan hope that they will live their future life in
a peaceful environment under a sound and lawful system free of all kinds of
prejudice, fraud, and intimidation.
"Vast Conspiracies Against The Jihadi Elements"
Dari-language Peshawar Shahadat asserted (10/11):
"From the one side, the Westernized members of the Transitional Islamic
State of Afghanistan are continuously expressing their intentions and interest
in the holding of elections and bringing of democracy, and they are not hiding their
sensitivities and opposition when compared to the religious and Jihadi
personalities [Islamic politicians associated with war against Soviets] in the
government in their statements.... It
has been seen and read in every ceremony or political meeting and in every
press article or editorial that most of the Jihadi elements are busy vilifying
each other, and they are reproaching and denigrating their leaders. Of course, the role of the religious groups
in the government needs more attention and focus, because they have at least
some skill to follow thoughtful policies and give a direction to all Jihadi
elements and forces, and remedy the vacuums, griefs, pains, disunity and
discord.... The foreign forces...are
busy in preparations to permanently sideline the Jihadis, and they are even
thinking of contacting and coming to terms with the Taliban."
"Foreign Interference And The Absence Of
Democratic System Are The Causes Of Instability"
Kabul's Mojahed observed (10/8): "The military campaign against
terrorism, which is being launched with the military support of the
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and the international peacekeeping
forces, is the obvious factor in rehabilitating economic foundations, improving
education, ensuring a prosperous life for the people, providing compatriots
with civil freedoms, accelerating the process of democracy in the field of
politics, and ensuring stability.
However, we should be sure that it is foreign interference and the absence
of democracy in the country that are the main causes of instability.... The obvious signs of this interference can be
seen in the Emergency Loya Jerga and in the Constitution Scrutiny and the
Constitution Compiling commissions. The
ongoing practical measures to form the national army and the police force
cannot meet the requirements of society.
This does not mean that Afghanistan does not need international
assistance. The fact that the
war-shattered Afghanistan cannot be rebuilt without international assistance is
beyond any doubt. It can be said,
however, that the policy pursued by the international community has not been
appropriate. Our people urge the
international community, and particularly the U.S., to pay attention to Afghan
civilians, to be aware of the pains of this society, but not to ignore people's
sufferings. They have not taken measures
to restore stability. Rather they caused
instability and chaos. We say that real
peace and lasting stability can only be ensured if the U.S. and the
international community introduce a national and democratic government in line
with people's wishes and if people can be convinced that this government will
reflect their desires and culture. Such
a democratic government is not only in the interest of the people, but it is
also effective for international stability."
"What People Say"
Dari/Pashto Kabul Weekly remarked (10/8): "Robbers and
thieves are arrested but are released later because they pay bribes to corrupt
security officials. Authorities ignore
the problem. When are we going to
enforce security in Kabul?... Legal
consultants appointed in civil services to put an end to red tape and
corruption have such a bad attitude towards poor civil servants that no-one
wants to come to work anymore. The
Supreme Court should first reform the ways of its own personnel."
"Setting Schools On Fire Is Proof Of Having No Culture"
Pashto-language Arman-e Melli (10/6): "Over the past few months we have
repeatedly heard worrying and regrettable reports from both the domestic and
foreign media about the burning down of schools in some provinces of the
country. In addition to these acts of provocation, we have come to realize that
our country's internal and external foes, who have been away from education for
around 25 years, bear very strong enmity towards the children of our
compatriots. They cannot accept our children receiving an education that will
help our country to prosper and enjoy a better future, which also belongs to
them. Schools and colleges are the places where the future generation of a
country is educated.... Based on Islamic
teachings and the current circumstances, boys and girls are entitled to receive
an education and to continue it. Boys and girls were given the chance of an
education after the establishment of a legitimate and democratic government in
the country. Bearing in mind the expectations of parents, these girls of today
are pursuing their education. There is no doubt that these girls will be the
doctors, engineers, politicians, teachers and journalists of tomorrow. We would also like to avail ourselves of the
intellect and power of the women's movement as the neighbouring countries of
Pakistan and Iran do. However, it is
very regrettable that some people, who are without culture, constantly burn
down schools and colleges. They warn girls' fathers to stop their daughters
attending school. If we assess their activities and their anti-human
ideologies, we can see that they are also the foes of education and of our
country's development and prosperity. We
hope that our foreign enemies, and particularly supporters of terrorists and
provocative elements, will be sympathetic to our damaged country. They should
take into consideration international circumstances, and adopt logical and
creative measures against extremism and terrorists. They have to refrain from
demolishing our country and tormenting its people, who have been affected by
war. What they choose for themselves, they should choose for us too. We believe
that the nights of helplessness will pass or, according to the Afghan proverb,
the winter will pass, but the blackness will remain.... We hope that security
officials of the transitional government and elders, the elite and
intellectuals will honestly fulfil their duty by detecting those responsible
for these acts of provocation and informing the government security departments
[about them]. In this way, the hands of these provocative elements could be cut
off and their faces could be exposed."
"Hoping For An Efficient, Effective And Developed
Administration"
Pashto-language Hewad asserted (10/6): "We realize that the chaotic
administration was inherited by the current government from its
predecessors. This administration has
been a field for experiments in the last two and half decades.... It is evident that, given the circumstances,
the administration is sinking into an ocean of mischief. Bribe-taking, embezzlement, nationalism,
supporting one's ethnic group, racial, linguistic and religious discrimination
and bureaucracy have grown stronger in the administration, and the
administration is gradually moving towards self-destruction. It is also losing
credibility in society. After the Bonn
Agreement and especially after the Emergency Grand Assembly, the nation
expected that constructive measures would be taken in terms of administrative
reforms and that the country would advance towards rehabilitation and
development. Nonetheless, unfortunately,
this matter got worse then expected.
There are several reasons for this, and the most important ones could be
considered the weak economy, regression and the strong political illiteracy
among our people and in society. Some
people who are in favour of war still consider getting to power as prize and
booty. Under the present sensitive
circumstances, had everyone ignored their personal interests and benefits, had
everyone sincerely worked for the rehabilitation of the system and
infrastructure of the country, we would have overcome several existing problems
by now.... We should gradually take
productive steps with a resolution to create a developed, influential and
active administration under the leadership of Hamed Karzai and with the
spiritual and material assistance of the international community in our
country. It is only under these circumstances that our country would be able to
develop and rehabilitate."
"Do Not Take Afghanistan Once Again To The
Edge Of A Precipice"
Government-funded Anis stated
(10/6): "Following the defeat of
the Taliban, the commanders once again got an opportunity to rule. Now that the government is well into its
second year in Afghanistan and Afghanistan is getting closer to the Loya Jerga,
elections and a constitution, a great number of these commanders have initiated
negotiations to form a new alliance....
A defeated enemy is thought of as a wounded snake waiting for an
opportunity to strike back. Do we want
to give an opportunity, by taking new positions, to the enemy to turn this
unfortunate land once again into a field of struggling, terror and horror?... Today the people of Afghanistan, particularly
its authorities, should do their utmost to benefit from every opportunity for
reconstructing Afghanistan; because the international community will not be
with us for ever. Negligence is there
and opportunities will be missed by being involved in hostile attempts. We should primarily think about the
reconstruction of Afghanistan today and later on, if there is an opportunity,
think about political struggle, but only political and unarmed struggle.... But let us not take Afghanistan once again to
the edge of a precipice and not pave the way for al-Qaida and the Taliban to
turn the county, once again, into a field of terror, horror and
harshness."
"Approval Of The Law On Political Parties Is A Step Towards
Democracy"
Government-funded Anis held (10/5): "Since the logical and scientific
inclinations are conspicuous in the reconstruction policies of the Transitional
Islamic State of Afghanistan, the political unit itself, in the process of
execution of its political duties, not only respects the principle of justice
and freedom, but also observes it emphatically.
Therefore, the charter on democracy and political and social systems
will find its place in our society.
Fortunately, the main stream of the official policies has been
influenced by it. This is a clear
example of respecting the will and demands of the people and leaving the
responsibility with the people to choose a political and social system.... Under the influence of the new political
conditions in Afghanistan and the international community for creation of a
sustainable civil society based on law, justice and democracy, our political
system and our people expressed their will to base our system of justice and
fairness of the country according to it.
In order to function in accordance with the rules set by the Loya Jerga,
to understand the objective realities of the country, to apply scientific and
systematic principles while proposing advanced national plans, programmes and
laws, the political system of our country has made and is making efforts in a
responsible way to democratize the Afghan society and implement reconstruction
policies.... The process of establishing
political pluralism, through putting into effect the law on political parties
according to the new constitution is proof of the fact that oppressive
monopolistic despotism, fighting intellectualism, dogmatic thoughts works no
more in this land, and the political and social environment of the country
doesn't accept them.... [The law on
political parties] proves that the Afghan people, having the right for
political freedom and expression of their opinions, will establish their
political parties to accelerate the process of reforms and new changes that are
really democratic and national. It paves
the way for the new Afghanistan to move from backwardness to advancement and
prosperity. Yes! The law on political
parties is a window open into a garden of Afghan thoughts to enrich the
political and social doctrines of the new system in Afghanistan. Its aim is to reflect the Afghan collective
thought as well as to pave the way for more Afghan collective thoughts in the
process of changing and reconstructing the new Afghanistan through an active
participation of the parties and political organizations in. It will come true when national interests are
virtually promoted, social justice is maintained and, finally, democracy is
built and civil society is created."
"The Bell Tolls"
The government-funded, weekly Kabul Times
wrote (10/5): "For more than a
year, CARE, the Centre on International Cooperation (CIC) and many others have
urged the international community to wake up to Afghanistan's deteriorating
security environment. With no
peacekeepers outside of Kabul, and an Afghan security force years away from
full preparedness, it is little surprise that Afghanistan is becoming an
increasingly dangerous place, and reconstruction is slowing down. Many areas of the country are now off limits
to the aid community.... As the number
of attacks against the UN and NGOs increased over the last year, Afghanistan's
hopes of reconstruction grew increasingly fragile. Afghanistan's security is threatened by (1)
militants dedicated to regime overthrow, (2) Afghan warlords and (3) Narco-criminality. Individually, these are each serious threats,
together, their danger is compounded....
Despite concerted international efforts since January 2002, terrorist
threats persist from al-Qaida, neo-Taliban forces and their militant allies.
Afghans claim that this threat is magnified by the lack of an adequate border
security force, enabling interference by anti-Western militants in neighbouring
states, who are enraged at the prospect of a strong and cohesive pro-Western
Afghanistan. International efforts to build an effective border police must
move from rhetoric to reality with urgency, while more must be done to ensure
that southern Pashtuns are not further alienated by upcoming political
processes such as the Constitutional Loya Jerga [Grand Assembly] and the
national elections, slated for June 2004....
Warlords continue to control armies that dwarf Afghanistan's national
security forces in size.... These
warlords do not want regime overthrow--they have everything to gain from a weak
national security structure, and a government straitjacketed by a lack of
funding and capacity. Until these forces
are absorbed and demobilized, they will threaten Afghanistan's security.
Warlord power will endure as long as two key objectives of U.S. foreign policy
(the war against terror and the establishment of a strong central government)
work at cross-purposes.... It is
critical for the U.S. to find a way to defeat extremism in Afghanistan that
also limits the power of Afghanistan's private militia leaders.... With a weak national security structure and
limited rule of law, reconstruction stalling, and extreme poverty everywhere,
no wonder organized crime is growing.
The most telling indicator is poppy cultivation.... Afghanistan's share
of global opium production went from 12 per cent in 2001 to 76 per cent in
2002.... The international community
should acknowledge the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, and
articulate the immediate steps it will take to address extremist militancy,
warlordism and nacro-criminality."
"Security Instability Prepares The Ground
For Destructive Terrorist Elements"
Pashto-language Erada noted (10/4): "The Bonn Agreement and the interim and
transitional administrations that came after it have attracted not only the
attention of Afghans living within the country, but also those living outside
and even foreigners. It was
believed that there would be many
improvements in terms of establishing a tranquil and secure environment and
peaceful life for the nation. Peace and
tranquility would rule the country and constructive steps would be taken in
terms of rehabilitating and reconstructing the country. We are currently facing two serious
problems that greatly affect our tranquil and peaceful life, or in other words,
that threaten all spheres of life. The first thing that is threatening peace in
various regions of the country is the partisan and guerrilla attacks of
destructive elements in various regions of Afghanistan and their poisonous
propaganda against the transitional government of Afghanistan. The second problem is robberies committed by
irresponsible armed men in the capital
and other provinces of the country....
Peace and security in society are as essential to citizens as water and air are for life. The unstable
and insecure environment established in our society is either because the
security authorities are shirking their responsibilities, or every incident is
based on understandings between the security authorities and these
irresponsible people. This situation has also prepared the ground for several
other criminal acts like smuggling, and more importantly, the destructive
activities of terrorist networks such as al-Qaida.... It is up to the security authorities to pay
the utmost attention and concentrate on ensuring peace and security. By paying attention to security and stability
the destructive acts of terrorist elements could be prevented."
INDIA: “The
Ideology Of Terror"
Narendar Pani held in the pro-economic-reform Economic Times
(10/10): "On the global stage,
President Bush's war on terrorism has got so deeply entwined with the situation
in Iraq that the U.S. chooses to provide little more than lip service to the
cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. And
within India the focus is so much on Pakistan-related terrorist activity that
the battle against other terrorists is easily forgotten.... Terrorism must then be seen also as a route
to power. Those seeking power through terrorist means could even look around
for disputes that would justify their means. If one cause fails, another will
be found. An effective strategy to combat terrorism cannot then be preoccupied
with dispute resolution. It must effectively target the viability of terrorism
as a route to power.... The combination
of a strong anti-terrorist state and an effective democracy should then be a
guarantee against terrorism.... Fighting
terrorism is then not a matter of only seeking effective solutions to the
problems in Kashmir, Telangana or elsewhere.
It is also a matter of removing the flaws in our democracy that allow
terror to remain an effective political weapon.”
"Bush's Blind Spot"
The Mumbai-based, left-of-center Free Press Journal
declared (10/9): "Does President
Bush know what he is doing in Asia, the Muslim countries in particular? Bush goes out of his way to uphold the right
of Israel to carry out raids deep inside Syria, America's staunchest ally, Tony
Blair's Britain has condemned the Israeli action as unacceptable.... Coming to the sub-continent, Bush's pointman,
Richard Armitage, deputy secretary of state, goes to Pakistan to praise
Musharraf for his efforts in fighting terrorism.... All reports from Afghanistan indicate the
swelling strength of Taliban.... The
U.S. forces still have no clue about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, as he
gets safe haven in Pakistani hideouts....
The Armitage praise would embolden Musharraf to plan other Kargils. And that is the time when India has to do
what Bush has recommended: to strike at the root of terrorism, namely the
hundreds of jihadi camps run by Pakistan in occupied Kashmir."
IRAN: "Multiethnic Afghan Army Preferable
To Expanding ISAF"
The official Voice of the Islamic Republic of
Iran's external service in Dari broadcast (10/14): "Because of ongoing insecurity and
clashes in various areas of Afghanistan, the UN and the Afghan transitional
government have been wanting the expansion of ISAF's activities beyond Kabul
[for a long time now].... Despite the
presence of NATO, clashes and insecurity have not calmed down in this
country.... Bearing in mind the current
situation, the Security Council's agreement to broaden the ISAF mandate appears
to be a significant step. But a point
worth considering is that the need to extend the ISAF mission countrywide means
expanding [presumably the number of] international forces in Afghanistan. Taking into account the current international
situation, particularly in Iraq, the decision will probably face some problems. Some experts believe that it will be
difficult for the member states to increase the number of their forces
throughout Afghanistan because of the current security situation in that
country and the problems that the international forces, particularly U.S.
forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, are facing.
Therefore, the final solution to the problem is to seek the
international community's assistance and cooperation in order to establish a
durable peace and security and to form a powerful national army with the
participation of all tribes in Afghanistan."
"Failure Starting American Occupiers In
Afghanistan"
English-language Tehran Keyhan International
held (10/8): Two years have passed since
the unprovoked American military attack on the impoverished nation of
Afghanistan and its subsequent occupation, but the mighty U.S. is still at war
with poorly equipped but determined fighters, whom Washington calls remnants of
the Taliban. We are not sure whether
those who attack American occupation forces with frequency almost on a daily
basis are really the Taliban militia which was set up in the mid 1990s with
weapons supplied by the CIA, training provided by Pakistan's ISI and funds from
Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden of the Washington sponsored network
al-Qaida. However, the facts cannot be
denied that soldiers of the world's sole superpower despite dislodging their
local lackeys from power are as jittery as jackasses when faced with resistance
from the average Afghan who resents occupation.... Two years on and the state of affairs is yet
to show the slightest signs of improvement....
Terrorism continues to haunt the peaceful populace as is evident from
the events in neighbouring Pakistan where Taliban-type anarchic elements are
having a field day of violence and bloodshed under the eyes of a government
that has been rewarded by Washington for cooperation in the so-called campaign
against terrorism.... The Americans,
coming from a wild west background, are grossly incompetent in guaranteeing law
and order in any land they invade, but it cannot be denied that they are crafty
to the core. They do not want the world
to learn about what actually occurred on September 11, 2001.... They merely want to fool public opinion
around the globe so that they would have a variety of pretexts for staying put
in Afghanistan--or for that matter in Iraq--in order to intimidate countries
refusing to kowtow to the U.S....
Afghans have a history of being a thorn in the side of any infidel
occupation force, and the day may not be far when we see the eclipse of
American power, thanks to the deeply embedded anti-Islamic tendencies in the
U.S. Administration."
PAKISTAN: "Going Beyond Kabul"
The center-left independent national English Dawn opined
(10/16): "What the country needs is
a broad-based regime. The Karzai
administration is dominated by the Tajiks.
This has alienated the Pushtoons, who constitute Afghanistan's largest
ethnic community. The fact that the
Taliban were predominantly Pushtoon should not stand in the way of their
adequate representation in the present administrative set-up. One doubts if without a political agreement
for a more broad-based government, foreign soldiers alone can restore peace in
the country."
"Is Kabul Moving Forward?"
Najmuddin A. Shaikh observed in in the center-left independent
national English Dawn (10/15):
"Pakistan must do what it can to seal the border with
Afghanistan. This is required as much
for Pakistan's own economic (smuggling) and human (narcotics trafficking) as it
is for helping Karzai cope with Afghanistan's other problems. Pakistan must intensify ongoing efforts to
persuade the moderate Taliban on Pakistan's soil to make peace with Karzai and
the Americans. If this is to succeed,
the extremist Taliban must be isolated and their access to Pakistani mosques
and madrassas for political sloganeering or more nefarious purposes
forbidden."
"Even More"
The center-right national English Nation held (10/14): "General Musharraf has bent over
backwards to please Washington since 9/11, for which he has faced sharp
criticism at home. Judging from a
statement by a military official of U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. is still
dissatisfied and wants him to do 'even more.'
Washington would like him to help crush the armed resistance to the
Karzai government by denying the rebels sanctuary inside our tribal areas. This has led the government to take punitive
measures, which are breeding disaffection in the tribal belt. Over the last few months Pakistan is being
pressed very hard to commit troops to Iraq.
Washington hopes that by December Pakistan might meet the demand. This by a country whose military officials’
maps indicate the LoC as the international border! This alone indicates where American
priorities lie, and how far Pakistan can rely on the U.S."
"Pakistan Should Do Even More?"
The rightist, English-language Pakistan Observer noted
(10/14): "The United States
wants Pakistan to do 'even more' in the ongoing war against terrorism.... The nation is understandably fed up with U.S.
demands to 'do more' and 'to do even more' to assist her in its fight against
terror. Pakistan is a front-line state
and is already doing everything possible to fight terrorism..... After the attack on World Trade Centre and
Pentagon, Pakistan provided logistic support and shared intelligence
information with the U.S. to wage war against Al-Qaeda and Taliban in
Afghanistan against the wishes of the Pakistani people.... Pakistan is thus doing everything possible as
a dignified member of the U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition. And what is Pakistan getting in return for
its outright support to the United States' global war against terrorism? The Bush administration inducted a hostile
Northern Alliance Government in Afghanistan amidst assurances to the
contrary."
"Better Late Than Never"
The center-right national English Nation stated
(10/13): "As the hunt for al-Qaida
and Taliban suspects, and now for those who protected those who harbored them,
continues in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the FATA legislators have
threatened the government with retaliation if it is not immediately
stopped.... Perhaps the Bush
Administration doubts Pakistan’s sincerity despite our complete submission in
the so-called War on Terror because the operation coincided with Deputy
Secretary Armitage’s recent visit to Islamabad.
The failure of the government to explain how, after the Northern
Alliance’s complete takeover in Kabul, the crossing of Taliban activists taking
refuge in the tribal areas is possible, given the ethnic and geographical
proximity between the Pushtun population straddling the Durand Line. Having been left in the lurch previously,
there should have been more questions than answers from our side."
"Baseless Allegation By Afghan Rulers"
Leading mass circulation Urdu Jang (10/13): "Karzai’s control in Afghanistan is
confined to Kabul only and tribal chiefs are controlling rest of the
country. And Afghan government failed in
controlling its opponents. As usual
Zalme Khalil Zade allegating Pakistan for all this. The way Northern Alliance favored Russia and
India and went against Pakistanis a clear ungrateful attitude and Afghan
government must do something in this direction."
"Factional Fighting"
The centrist national English News argued (10/10): "Karzai’s difficulties are compounded by
the kind of government structured by the United States in Afghanistan after the
religious militia was ousted from power.
Torn between confidence in the Northern Alliance which led the
liberation war and pragmatism the Americans balanced the distribution of power
with the result that while the Pashtun Afghans purportedly exercised power the
Northern Alliance, especially the Tajiks could act independently. This badly hampered administration with the
two main stakeholders in the government working at cross-purposes. Pakistan has frequently had a taste of this
dichotomy in the Afghan government with its various Ministers blowing hot and
cold at the same time."
"Afghanistan Be Saved From Defiance Of Warlords"
Leading mass circulation Urdu Jang observed (10/10): "The United States has been continuing
with its policy of supporting certain warlords and taking action against
certain others. This shows that the establishment
of peace and stability in Afghanistan is not among the top U.S.
priorities. If no attention is being
paid to control these warlords, then the bloodshed which has been continuing in
Afghanistan for the last twenty-one years would further gain momentum and its
negative impact would also affect the neighboring countries. The international community should pay due
attention towards the U.S. policy of setting up a showpiece and symbolic
government in Kabul and allowing the various warlords to play their game with
impunity outside the capital."
"Today’s Afghanistan"
Sensationalist pro-Jihad Urdu Ummat noted (10/10): "The Taliban who, according to U.S.
claims were ousted or eradicated from Afghanistan, have taken control of at
least five provinces in Afghanistan. The
popularity of Taliban is growing in Afghanistan with each passing day and the
people still remember their peaceful era.
There is no doubt that with the growing tyranny and lawlessness under
the Karzai government, which is patronized by the U.S, the Taliban or Usama bin
Laden might return to Afghanistan or some other Mullah Omar comes and launch a
jihad against these imperialistic forces."
"Failure Of U.S. In Afghanistan"
Karachi-based, right-wing pro-Islamic unity Urdu Jasarat
(10/10): "The United States and its
puppet government have failed to establish their rule in Afghanistan even after
the passage of two years and the situation in Kabul is still precarious. The Taliban have emerged as a new force and
maintain control over various provinces.
After its defeat, the United States is now trying to have some sort of
rapprochement with any Taliban group.
Whatever might be the case, one thing is quite clear that the United
States has failed in Afghanistan. It has
not been able to capture Usama bin Laden or Mullah Omar. Nor its established government is having any
success. The elements, which were
earlier cooperating with Hamid Karzai, have now turned into rebels. The U.S. is putting the blame of the failure
of Karzai government over Pakistan notwithstanding the fact that it was not
Pakistan’s responsibility to establish peace in Afghanistan."
"Resurgence of Taliban in Pushtun Areas"
Ahmed Rashid observed in the center-right national English Nation
(10/9): "In Quetta, where thousands
of Taliban fighters are living in mosques and madrassas backed by a myriad of
militant Pakistani groups, the Taliban are equally confident and scoff at such
comments. "The puppet regime of (President Hamid) Karzai is on the verge
of collapse and the Americans will flee Afghanistan," says a Taliban
mullah in Quetta. After evening prayers
in the Pushtunabad suburb of Quetta, tens of thousands of Afghan and Pakistani
Taliban --distinctive by their black clothes, black turbans, long beards and
unkempt long hair--pour into the streets."
"U.S. Plan To Eliminate Taliban Could Not Be Fulfilled"
Urdu-language Pakistan asserted (10/8): "The U.S. had given a free hand to
Afghan warlords so that its crusade against the Taliban could succeed. The local Afghans are fed up of this scenario
and recall the Taliban era fondly when peace and stability were exemplary. It seems that Afghanistan is once again
standing at the threshold of 1992, when the civil war had made the Afghans’
life miserable. One reason behind
Taliban’s reappearance is the civilians’ disappointment at unfulfilled U.S.
promises. The Afghans had thought that
U.S. assistance would rid them of poverty, but despite the passage of two
years, this has not come to pass."
AFRICA
NIGERIA: "George Bush Is Nothing But A Villian"
Independent, pro-Islamic Zaria al-Mizan asserted (10/8):
"The mad taste for Iraqi oil has transformed the U.S. president George
Bush into a villain and cannibal of the 21st century while...bin Laden now a
hero. Nearly two years since the Unites
States last had a real clue about the whereabouts of the man President Bush
once said he wanted "dead or alive."... The Pakistani government, which officially is
allied with the United States in the manhunt, is trying to assert control over
hundreds of miles of this all-but-lawless frontier with Afghanistan, a place
that is home to the same Pashtun tribes that spawned the Taliban next door;
Pakistan was once a main sponsor of the Taliban regime, which hosted al-Qaida
and allowed it to flourish. The
Pakistani government's authority over the tribal frontier remains
limited.... That border is not where the
highest-ranking al-Qaida leaders captured in Pakistan so far have generally
been tracked down.... Yet so much about
the border region makes it seem like an ideal destination for somebody trying
to hide from virtually the entire world.
Cleaved from one another by a colonial boundary, the Pashtuns on either
side of the border share the same language, history, and culture. On the Pakistani side, a coalition of
religious parties swept to victory in parliamentary elections last year in a
frontier province, posting a challenge to Musharraf's secular government. And
the tribal areas are characterized by what Najam Sethi, a Pakistani newspaper editor,
called 'rabid anti-Americanism.'"
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
CANADA: "Iraq Invasion Is Now Afghanistan's
Problem Too"
Jeffrey Simpson editorialized in the leading
centrist Globe and Mail (10/9):
"Canada has just lost two lives in Afghanistan. We're spending about $1-billion in that
country, tying aid, military deployment and diplomatic expenditures together. Are we making a difference? Is anybody?
At one level, the answer is resoundingly yes. Afghanistan and the entire
world is much better off without the Taliban regime of theocratic zealots who
welcomed Usama bin Laden and al-Qaida.
Military gains should not be obscured by the fact that Mr. Bin Ladin and
other al-Qaida members remain on the loose, and that fighting occasionally
breaks out between the Taliban and U.S. or Pakistani forces. Nor should the political gains be ignored. A
semblance of a central government is operating in Kabul and trying to extend
its sway over the entire country, albeit with mixed success. Local warlords are sending some money to the
central government, but they retain most of it for themselves. And the drug trade--the only part of the old
Afghan economy that functioned--is back.
Rebuilding Afghanistan was always going to be a Herculean task. The country was medieval in many
ways.... At least Afghanistan does not
now threaten others, as it did vicariously under the Taliban. But nobody should think that, because
Afghanistan has taken a back seat to Iraq in Western consciousness, the country
is on the sure path to stability....
Quite apart from the inherent challenges of stabilizing and rebuilding
Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq made the task even more daunting, perhaps
even impossible. The Iraq fixation of
the warriors inside the Bush administration obviously diverted U.S. attention
and money from Afghanistan.... But many
other countries are now so estranged from the U.S. that garnering more support
for anything the U.S. tries, including reconstructing Afghanistan, has become
more difficult."
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