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Journalism of Courage
The invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001was aimed at over- throwing the regime of the Taliban. It concurrently aimed to set up the mechanisms which would facilitate the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. Suffice to say, the situation in Afghanistan is getting worse 8212; increased number of civilian casualties, attacks on international aid workers and insurgencies from all four directions of the country are at an all time high and the reconstruction efforts are failing. The country lies bereft of a centralised leadership; the Northern Alliance egged on by the efforts of the Taliban and warlord commanders is ravaging the already fragile system. The international community has failed to deliver on its promises, and it continues to be ill-equipped to tackle the internal politicisation of the country. The message from the Taliban 8212; the international community must leave, the Afghans will handle matters pertaining to Afghanistan by themselves.
The international community organised under the US-led coalition initiated the war to eliminate the perpetrators behind the 9/11 attacks. The campaign was executed within a month. It appeared that this large-scale air bombing had rid Afghanistan of militant and terrorist factions. However, these factions were not eradicated, they had merely moved location 8212; either to Pakistan, Iran or Uzbekistan. Leaving their central base of Kabul and Kandahar, they made way for international forces. Terms and agreements on the make-up of the post-Taliban government were laid out in Bonn and a transitional outline for the Afghan government was mandated in the Bonn Agreement.
This form of government encouraged corruption but most of all it undermined the authority of Karzai. Karzai had been promised aid and assistance in developing Afghanistan, and on several accounts both prior to the deterioration of the situation and post he mentioned the need for international assistance. The US had pledged support however, as the re-building of Afghanistan was taking place, the US engaged itself in Iraq 8212; committing money and resources 8212; 300 billion of its finances to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein and liberate the Iraqis. The UN too had pledged financial assistance and ground assistance, which materialised in the NATO force, ISAF. ISAF was given the responsibility of securing Kabul and the immediate surrounding areas, but the enemy lay outside Kabul, towards the Afghan-Pakistan border with FATA. The US, it appeared, had banked on European and Pakistani support to partially cover the costs of the Afghan problem 8212; the EU under-contributed and the Pakistani8217;s under the leadership of Musharraf abused finances and authority.
In the meanwhile ministers engaged to raise finances on their own. This resulted in the growth of opium cultivation, which now accounts for 72 per cent of world opium supply. Corruption led to the expansion of commanders pockets at the cost of a failing civil society.
The elections which were held in 2004 serves only to indicate that the power of the warlords was not something the Afghan infant state could take on. Karzai appointed chief warlords to prominent positions prior to the elections in order to ensure free and democratic elections 8212; in which he was once again named president.
Worsening conditions paved the way for the re-emergence of the Taliban. Elections are to be held in the coming year. Karzai8217;s position is in jeopardy; further, the electoral process itself is in jeopardy. The Taliban are once again threatening the security of the system, and international players have realised the changing realities. The Afghanistan Compact, which succeeds the Bonn Agreement, acknowledges this. The emphasis of the Afghan Compact is on reconstruction. More aid has been pledged 8212; 10.5 billion. But the situation is now no longer as finite as a monetary donation.
alia.allanaexpressindia.com
