You mention the name ‘Afghanistan’ to any commoner and you’ll perhaps see them expecting some worse news or the other. Some new jehad against some other country, cities and villages being bombed, millions of refugees on the neighbor’s borders, civilians (specially women and children) severely facing the spectra of malnutrition, adults making rallies with weapons, children forced into the war etc. Anything bad in a civil society you imagine, you’re sure to find it in Afghanistan.

            Decades of civil war, terrorism and Shariat system of civilian law have robbed the nation of almost everything that was good. Each and every war in that land has its backers and opposition in the international arena. Many sovereign countries are fighting a proxy war in Afghanistan, through its protégés and mercenaries, to maintain its geo-political interests. The nation has been severely used and abused by the terrorists, half-learned fanatics and military leaders of various hues and colors. What’s the result?

            Significant portions of the population are refugees, agricultural land converted for poppy cultivation. People being subjected to strict and severe medieval laws, ‘women’s rights and freedom’ is a forgotten word, children as young as ten going to the battlefield, large number of people moving around cities and villages destroyed, and the list continues.

            Is Afghanistan the laboratory to show the world where human civilization could plunge? Perhaps, Yes. The scale of destruction has even paled Cambodia quarter a century ago, and Vietnam thirty years ago. The difference of the former with the latter ones is not only the scale of destruction, but also the fact that destruction in the former spilled on to many other countries, near and far. It is not only U.S. where two towers symbolic global capitalism were destroyed, countries such as India, Russia, China, several African nations are victims of destruction jingoism for several years. Perhaps some people in all nations as well. And that could be the most dangerous phase of modern civilization.

            Where lies the end to this ignominious phase of human history? It is difficult to predict where the conflict will take Afghanistan and Afghans. There may be a political change in the regime that is ruling that is presently ruling Afghanistan, but will it ever bring a change to the mindless destruction. There could be a prolonged guerilla war and the Soviet experience being repeated with Americans, and them leaving Afghanistan in another mess for another superpower to indulge in its affairs again. The vital question here is, will Afghans be able to lead normal lives again? Or will they continue to peddle drugs, indulge in violence in various cities and be fodder to different ideologues playing political war games? Will ever-Afghan women be able to lead normal lives again? The answers are difficult and no expert may dare to predict.

            The tragedy of Afghanistan is that, not only is it surrounded by big powers, who want to play big games, but it is tremendously ethnically divided nation. Since ethnic loyalties still rule supreme, the idea of one ethnic group dominating over the other can still spark a civil war. Also, major ethnic groups having their support having their support from neighboring countries is a part of the problem. The fire in Afghanistan continues to climb up the strings and that is why the whole world faces the backlash of Afghanistan.

            The answer of peace and stability in Afghanistan lies with these strings. Until now they were the reason of the present mess in Afghanistan. If there is to be peace and prosperity, these strings have again, but on a different i.e. development assistance. The peace in Afghanistan lies not only in Afghan mindset, but also a change in the mindset of people leading other nations (specifically their ambitions). From a destruction laboratory, Afghanistan could be turned into a developmental laboratory.

                                                                                                                                                Contributed By
                                                                                                                                                Sourav Adak (MPIB 2001-03)