EDITORIAL : THE DAILY OUTLOOK, AFGANISTAN

 

                

 

Unhappy Brothers See Osama Death “Blowing New Spirit”

It is not surprising and unexpected to see a surge in Taliban terrorist attacks as the spring buds have come to full, which have typically betokened the increase in violence and thus deaths of Afghans over the last few years. It is not unexpected either to see the militants get emboldened and more brazen as the president of the country or head of the state continue to call them the "disgruntled brothers." It is now the common belief that Taliban are not strong; it is the government that is weak.
On Saturday, May 07, 2011, the militants attacked the governor's office of southern province of Kandahar. According to reports, at least two explosions rocked the city and the gunmen holed up in a five-storey shopping mall traded fire with security forces at the provincial governor's compound. In the meanwhile, the Taliban militants have issued a statement acknowledging the death of Osama Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda who was killed by American forces last week in Pakistan.
While president Karzai continues to call the Taliban militants as the "unhappy brothers", they have said that the death of Bin Laden "will blow a new spirit into the jihad against the occupiers." It shows that Taliban have not broken with Al-Qaeda and that the two continue to share one ideology. Many believe that President Hamid Karzai should stop calling the extremist militants brothers and instead order international and Afghan forces to squeeze them to disrupt their momentum and ability who kill Afghan men and women and destroy the country.
This is because they believe that Taliban will not embrace Afghan constitution, denounce violence and sever ties with Al-Qaeda, the global terrorist network, if they do not feel that they are defeated. These are the preconditions set to reconcile with the Taliban because observance of these conditions will guarantee a pluralistic, open and peaceful prosperous Afghanistan. So in order to instill a feeling of defeat into these militants, the government and international community must take a tougher approach and increase military pressure on them. In a large gathering of protestors, former intelligence Chief Amrullah Saleh, referring to Taliban, said, "We have not forgotten the burning of our homeland and the humiliation of the men and women of Afghanistan. But you (Karzai) are still calling these people 'brother."

New Political Tradition

In response to the demands of the rally called last week by ex-Afghan intelligence chief, Amrullah Saleh, the Hamid Karzai office has said that there was a growing new political tradition in Afghanistan: people once dismissed from their positions switch to misleading people and start propagating wrong thoughts about the government. The really was arranged to protest against the peace reconciliation program and also demanded that president Karzai should not call the Taliban as his brothers and bring necessary reforms in its government or it will face Middle East like protests. Mr. Saleh was the intelligence chief of Afghanistan until last year when he and the then Interior Minister Hanif Atmar had to submit their resignations after rocket attacks by Taliban on the tent of Loya Jirga where tribal and political elders of Afghanistan and Pakistan had gathered to discuss the ways of reconciliation with Taliban. Saleh regards the peace program initiated by Hamid Karzai as fake and to him this means selling Afghanistan back to Taliban by empowering them.
Government's opposition has a very vital role in every country. Opposition monitors the decision made by government and defends the people against decisions that are not in the national interests of a country. Unfortunately in Afghanistan the opposition seems to be very weak and feeble and can not press the government, although last week's rally was strongly backed by it.
The new political tradition that the government is talking about is actually quite old. What is obvious is that our government has completely failed to move Afghanistan towards peace, economical prosperity and social and political stability. Security is at its lowest level while corruption, opium and lack of justice are governing the life of people. It's quite rational to say that serious concerns about the weaknesses of government exist on the minds of every Afghan and if not address, will one day, turn into storm which the government will not be able to control.
There is golden opportunity for president Karzai administration to bring positive reforms and address the concerns of the people rather than trying to cover their voices. Golden opportunity, because the international community is backing Afghan government with its forces and funds.

A Bronze Medal for Afghanistan

Perhaps, sports has gone far beyond its classic meaning as mere entertainment and changed more into a symbol of national integrity and national pride. Medals are not any more a symbol of personal and individual success; they are symbols of national victory. Hundreds of thousands of people participate as spectators in every world championships and millions others follow them online or watch live on their televisions and cell phones organized anywhere in the world. Governments along with NGOs are deeply involved in giant investment to build up infrastructure and provide facilities in order to improve the overall condition of sports. A glance to accounts of institutions involved in sports business clearly shows how the huge amount of money channeled through sports, which is far larger then annual GDP of poor countries.

As the sports' business booms comparatively to previous year and the prospect of coming years look also extremely convenient, every country tries to find a foothold in global championships, like Olympic, Football world Cub, Cricket World Cup and etc. These global clubs do not seem to be affected much by economic recessions and they would keep continue their prolific business in severe time and also help countries to improve the level of economic growth resorting to efficient planning for sport programs.

Here in Afghanistan, Years of chaos and political instability left the country absent from world championships, while Afghan people are desperate fan of sports. During past ten years Afghan youngsters have done quite in international sports sphere. However the security crisis and lack of facilities are challenges which cannot be ignored, meanwhile youngsters have succeeded to utilize the optimum effort and bring medals for Afghanistan.
In the recent world Taekwondo championships hosted by South Korea, Mr. Rohullah Nikpa defeating his Jordanian rival in one-fourth round and succeeded to bring bronze medal for Afghanistan. Other Afghani participators, like Nisar Ahmad Bahawi, a national champion also succeeded to defeat their rivals one after another, but, unfortunately, barred in one-fourth round by their rivals.

Rohullah Nikpa is a popular Afghan Taekwondo practitioner and he was the first man in the history of Afghanistan that brought bronze medal in 2008, Beijing Olympics for the country. Having such talented youngsters in international spheres can deeply restore the currently blackmailed popularity of Afghanistan. They are able to draw a new picture, a picture of goodwill, humanistic and moderate, for those who know nothing except suicide attacks committed by terror networks that are actually are not born outside of the country and exported. Thus, how good it would be Afghan officials take notice and pay due attention to our champions and provide facilities for the rest of talented youngsters.