Afghanistan, the forgotten project

Afghanistan has also reached out to another country dealing with a fervent drug trade, Columbia.  Afghani officials invited their counterparts from the South American country over to exchange ideas and increase cooperation. Columbia’s unfortunate experience dealing with the cocaine trade gives its unique insight in assistingAfghanistan. Through troubled times, the Afghans are demonstrating their ability to deal with adversity and adapt to handle the problems.

Though Afghanistan’s security situation is worsening in some areas, it does not mean that progress has not been made.  The United Statesturned over command of the southern region of Afghanistanon July 31^st to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).  The transfer of power allows theU.S. to concentrate efforts on Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in the search for Bin Laden, Omar and their associates, while still aiding ISAF in the south.  Though the failure to capture the leaders of the insurgency and al-Qaeda still looms large, there have been successes in other areas.

U.S. forces and their Afghan allies have been able to locate and capture a good amount of insurgents and their commanders.  Taliban commander Abdul Gafar was captured late last October by Afghan troops; he was responsible for a number of IEDs and rocket attacks.^[xxvi]  TheU.S. also recognizes that force will not bring in every insurgent and thus has provided an alternative for rebels.

The U.S. has initiated the “Peace through Strength” program which reintegrates insurgents back into the community if they agree to disarm and abide by national laws.  Last month, two Taliban commanders along with five of their followers agreed to the program and pledged their support to the government.  The U.S. credits the work of the Afghan government in reaching out to local leaders to establish a link to insurgents who are willing to make the switch.^[xxvii]  Fourteen insurgents made the switch shortly after the parliamentary elections late last year.^[xxviii]  This non-violent method allows the U.S. to lure moderates who may have been manipulated by extremists to renounce the insurgency instead of killing them and causing more animosity from their families and friends.

Afghanistan is far from disintegrating, as some journalists would want the public to believe.  Most of its citizenry are grateful and happy that the U.S. overthrew the Taliban regime and assisted in the founding of the new democracy.  They have new freedoms and civil rights while having greater access to the necessities of life.  A better future is being built as well with the construction of roads, bridges and buildings.  Afghanistan is slowly integrating itself back into the global community.  The people have acquitted themselves well despite the adversity they are facing.  However, there is still some cause for concern.

Concerns

Since the fall of the Taliban in the autumn of 2001, Afghanistan has made great strides in becoming not only a democracy, but a full-fledged member of the world once again.  Yet, there are still causes for anxiety about its future.  The security situation has not drastically improved and has gotten worse in some areas.  Due to the influx of recruits streaming over from Pakistan, the insurgency has been renewed.  The recent increase has also been partly blamed on the thriving poppy trade, which is rumored to be raising money for the Taliban.

This lack of security has had a number of unfortunate consequences that are weakening the reconstruction effort.  Education has suffered tremendously as parents are reluctant to send their children to school.  Aid organizations are either refusing to enter or barred from the most dangerous areas, impeding progress that would contribute to a more stable country.  Broken promises made from aid workers are threatening to undermine the Afghans’ trust of foreigners.  Furthermore, locals are reluctant to cooperate with NATO forces for fear of retaliation.  This development makes the job of these soldiers more dangerous, which in turn are raising doubts in the leadership of foreign countries about sending their troops to Afghanistan.  Because of this problem, President Karzai has suggested a controversial and ill-advised plan to rearm civilians to battle the insurgents.