AFGHANISTAN & DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY AND AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan had 30 long years of struggle, from decentralised cultural monarchy to the present fledgling democratic, soaked in blood, was the worst part of our history. The last 7 years were disappointingly painful.
In the presence of warlords, heroin growers and highly corrupt officials, transparency was highly unlikely. The eradication of heroin is impossible at this stage. When the countryside is under control of Taliban and they need this cash crop for their insurgency machine to roll and in the area under control of the government, has no alternative source of income for the masses.
Whether we accept it or not, Afghanistan has to evolve its own locally tailored system of governance, with representation of all nationalities on population basis. The reason of failure of Afghan’s successive governments is their failure to solve the questions of nationalities and accord them the sense of participation.
The majority of the analysts will disagree with me, but it is my honest belief that the present Taliban insurgency stems from this problem. It does not mean that I want to rule out other causes like US presence, corruption, warlord’s manipulations, and ISI involvement. What I want to convey that it is the feeling of deprivation by Afghans that they have been robbed off their centuries old government.
Whenever I have been to Afghanistan on different occasions I have returned with the same feelings. I could be the last Afghan to refuse the national rights to small nationalities but not at the cost of disfranchising the major nation or to go an extent that for political gain, the Afghans should be robbed. The real Sitam-e- Mille was borne by Afghans. Whether it was during monarchy, Sardar Daud, or socialist regimens.
I just can’t convince my mind, why the Afghans should have the phobia to tackle this issue and solve it forever. Like Pakistani rulers they are brushing it under the carpet with the hope that it will die down. They should have the strength of character and realise that every jolt to the system, will bring this problem to the surface.
It was strange that not only Afghan leadership but the leaders from our area were scared to death to talk about this issue, fearing that if it was brought to the surface, ISI will exploit it to their gains. Are they not doing it to day or were not in the past.
Afghanistan being a “WATAN” has much more historical intrinsic strength than Pakistan, to solve this problem. If Pakistan exploit it to its advantage they have to face the fall outs which will ultimately shake the foundations of Pakistan.
For a person like me it is of no significance whose mausoleum is being built or whose portrait is being displayed on important places with the president of the country but it provokes the ordinary Afghan and he feel, he is robbed of his history.
The swift run over by Taliban from Qandahar and capturing 90% of the country in a matter of few days was a manifestation of this ignored problem. The atmosphere of Kabul is pregnant with these feelings and still we deny that it does not stink and refuse to sniff.
Hamid Karzai re election cannot be considered an ideal one but idealism in a bleeding objective condition could not be expected. He can still broaden his basis by including Abdullah. His strong personality and intelligence can still be utilised by Hamid Karzai for the sake of Afghanistan. If Obama and Hilary can accommodate each others, why not these two, unless they are putting their personal cult and interest before the integrity and progress of Afghanistan.
Idealism does not exist anywhere. Even the house of global fraternity, UNO is most undemocratic in its nature. If Afghanistan has to survive, it has to evolve its own democratic values free of corruption.
Election is only one factor of a democratic system. It is the accountability, due representation of all sections of society, the feeling of participation and the deliverance to the public that really matters. The rulers or better-termed public servants must root out corruption, nepotism and must restore human dignity.
When I visited Afghanistan during late Sardar Daud rule; I did not hesitate for a moment to tell the high officials that I was shocked and surprised that the mountains of Afghanistan speaks Afghani but not the people and I never heard Afghani in offices. I was blunt to tell them. That we thought it is propaganda by Pakistan radio, in fact it is true.
It is an obscured notion that wherever there is election there is democracy. Is there democracy in Egypt, Syria and Pakistan? In third world countries in general and Muslim world in particular the people power is being rapped in the name of democracy.
An Egyptian doctor jokingly told me, when I visited Egypt that a man decided not to vote Hosni Mubarak and came home and told his wife. The wife in panic sent him back to change his vote. He rushed to the polling station and made an excuse that by mistake, he has done so and want to change. The returning officer told him, not to worry they have already changed it, but advised not to do it again.
Transparency and accountability; with freedom to speak, get-together, write and telecast independently is more important, even if the Electoral College is not the usual one.
At this juncture, personality clashes or instead of fair distribution of power to the nationalities; superiority of one ethnic group over the other, for political gains will be disastrous. Afghanistan cannot afford to have another Karmal or for that matter another Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Masood.
The last one must be given his due respect but not at the cost of others. ISI success in Afghanistan is due to this very fact to play with emotions of Afghans (PASHTUN). They are at work on this agenda for last 5 decades.
God forbid if Hamid Karzai failed this time in all aspects, whether it is corruption, transparency of the government, nepotism, to stop extravagancies or solution of national representation; Afghanistan will be doom forever. He has to pursue the policy of carrot and stick at the same time.
The jirga concept is there only Pukhtoons and Baloch, not in any other nation of subcontinent, India. If Afghanistan can have fruitless dialogue with Pakistan, then why not with Taliban.
Let it be fruitless, but I am sure at the Afghan wisdom will prevail at the end. The most important thing is the process of thinking. In Kabul, Peshawar, Quetta and Qandahar it should be the same, to compliment each other. Both sides should engage the FATA elders. The people like Fazlur Reman and Senator Orakzai should be ignored and exposed. The respected senator has no objection to Islam Abad interference but cannot tolerate Peshawar.
They should be nipped in bud. We wasted a long time, to bring them to mainstream but it is of no use to waste more time. Hamid Karzai is shrewd politician, as he told us that every one will come with his own agenda, only Afghan can have Afghan agenda. Time is the crucial factor.
Mahmud Khan Achakzai words should be taken seriously. Maulana should be asked in Jirga that he must snap his umbilical cord with ISI and snap ISI link with Taliban and FATA. The Eid controversy has exposed Maulana. He is playing this double game for long time. Enough is enough.
I do feel very uncomfortable to name some politicians. It is undiplomatic and uncultured attitude but if the future of our nation is at stake I don’t feel guilty to do so.
By Dr. Khurshid Alam Khurshidalam5@hotmail.com 2nd November 09.