Charlie Hebdo Reveals Failure in Understanding Values

The armed attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris was an act of violence that does not have any justification in human’s civilization anymore.  Those carrying out the attack meant to infuse a vicious circle of hatred and divide, and may have succeeded in doing so.  However, as common citizens of this world we need to avoid pointing fingers and instead unite as the one human race against this vicious aim. 

Violence is not a response to such acts, especially if those targeted are innocent civilians.  If this happens, it perfectly serves intention of those that want to instill hatred.  A more responsible response would be to identify the cause of such incidents and unite together to confront it.   

The unfortunate incidents in Paris, however, outlined two important lessons that all need to learn:

First is for the liberal western world where freedom of speech and the press are hard earned values.  While every human-being has a right to express their views, this freedom, even in humor, should responsibly encourage respect, unity, understanding and trust among the entire public, not otherwise.  Freedom of speech could be more effective if it is address resolving social issues such grievance, inequality and discrimination. 

Second is for the Muslim world that constantly faces incidents of offensive media messages regarding their faith.  Such messages or drawings are usually produced by non-Muslims who have limited understanding of their Abrahamic religion.  The response to such messages or drawings cannot and must not be violence.  Islam does not allow that.  Instead the Muslim world should respond to such incidents with care, respect and tolerance.  

They could be much more effective if they start educating and show to the non-muslim world that their religion is peace and that it is the same as that of Prophet Abraham, who built the Kabba in Mecca.  And that Muslims recite five times in their prayers every day that “Oh God! bless us Muslims as you have blessed Abraham and his sons.”  Also, that it is our faith not to depict the prophet or God for it can lead to worship of human made idolatry, forbidden in Islam.

If all sides learn these lessons and put more effort into building their understanding of each others values, we may be able to unite against violence and live in a peaceful and just world, otherwise, even cartoons can incite violence, fear and divide.

Time is Ripe for a New Chapter in Af-Pak Relations

Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan’s new president has provided hope for peace and stability to the troubled nation.

Even in his first weeks in office, President Ghani, a former World Bank technocrat and professor in leading American Universities, has embarked on sweeping reforms from tackling corruption to resolving the issues of the prisoners in Kabul’s Puli Charkhi prison. Ghani seems serious and an ideal leader for a post-conflict country such as Afghanistan where people want swift actions from public leaders and are usually frustrated by lack of action.

President Ghani has yet to nominate his cabinet and governors of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The general perception in Afghanistan is that together with his Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, he will nominate one soon, and it could be a more technocratic one than compared to his predecessor, Hamid Karzai. Ghani’s minister selection will be important for delivering on his campaign promises and furthering the tasks he has started in Afghanistan.

Among the many policy issues facing Ghani, a major one is how he tackles Afghanistan’s troubled relations with its eastern neighbor, Pakistan.

Afghanistan and Pakistan share a long border of nearly 2,600 kilometres (1,615 miles) named as the “Durand Line.” Pakistan recognizes this line as an “international border” crossing inherited from British India; Afghanistan, however, recognizes it only as a temporary boundary that was agreed to between British India and the Afghan Emir more than a century ago. Borer disputes have resulted in serious mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad, and both sides have failed to capitalize on the enormous economic benefits they can reap from establishing cordial relations.

Hamid Karzai, the outgoing Afghan president, labeled Pakistan as one of the key stakeholders to peace and stability in Afghanistan. However, he also outlined that his nearly 20 state visits to Pakistan and many efforts failed to result in any constructive outcome.

Now that there is new leadership in Kabul and that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen on contributing to a more stable region, it might be the right time for both sides to turn pages and open a new chapter in Af-Pak relations.

Unlike the past, President Ghani should take lead and propose a more compromising approach that builds trust and enables Pakistan to see more benefits in Afghan stability. One thing that President Ghani should make sure to avoid is to break from the past where most of Afghanistan’s problems are blamed on Pakistan.

Instead, President Ghani’s government should opt for a policy that recognizes the need for mutual Af-Pak relations, defies issues of mistrust and promises good will for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. This policy should also focus on promoting regional economic cooperation that in turn can foster mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pakistan’s leadership should also respect Afghan’s desire for stability and actively engage with Kabul on overcoming political and security challenges. Unlike the past, Pakistan’s strategic depth policy should seek closer economic ties with Afghanistan and understand that building better and more trustful relations with Afghanistan’s legitimate government in Kabul is better for Pakistan’s future stability.

If both Afghan and Pakistani leaders can make this shift in their foreign policies, the two Asian countries can benefit from significant economic and political relations, and collectively contribute to more prosperous societies in the region.

--
This article is also published at SGV at http://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/af-pak-relations-401/

China Can Steer Afghans Away from Chaos

China recently appointed Sun Yuxi as a special envoy for Afghanistan's affairs. Sun, who has served as Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan and India, arrived in Kabul on July 23, meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, as well as both presidential candidates hoping to replace him. Both sides discussed their mutual interest in a stable Afghanistan and the potential for increased cooperation between the two countries.

During the reign of former Afghan king Mohammed Zahir Shah, the Sino-Afghan relationship saw both sides commit to increased mutual support and economic cooperation. However, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, China opted for a more reserved foreign policy in Afghanistan.

China has done its best to avoid being dragged into Afghan geopolitics or becoming an active player in the Afghan political quagmire. Rather, it has kept an eye on developments in Afghanistan through Pakistan, its most trusted ally in the region.

After the Taliban came to power in the late 1990s, China remained impartial, despite its wariness at potential spillover of the Taliban political agenda to its western regions.

As an immediate neighbor to Afghanistan, China cannot remain a bystander or merely a business participant in Afghanistan's affairs.

It must play a bigger and more active role in the stability of the country, particularly when Western countries are packing up to leave, a transition that is putting enormous political and economic pressure on Afghanistan.

The appointment of Sun as China's special envoy for Afghanistan's affairs is a positive development in this process. Now, China should focus on a number of practical follow-on steps.

First, China needs to be closely involved in supporting a smooth political transition in Afghanistan. Looking at the reactions to the announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential elections, Afghan candidates find it hard to accept loss in elections and may turn on each other violently.

Such reactions can lead to significant instability in Afghanistan that may not only embolden the insurgency in this country but also threaten Afghanistan's immediate neighbors, including China.

China needs to join hands with the international community to encourage all sides to accept the results of the elections, and to contribute to a peaceful political transition and stability in Afghanistan.

Second, China can contribute to Afghanistan's political stability by undertaking a more proactive role in building trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan, helping them overcome political hostility.

Kabul has long complained of a lack of genuine support from Islamabad in quelling the insurgency and getting positive results from ongoing peace talks. Several times, Karzai has expressed his view that Pakistan may have significant influence over the success of the political dialogue with the Taliban and other groups resisting Kabul.

As a close ally of Pakistan in the region, China can play a more vital and more successful role than many Western countries have done so far in mediating between Afghanistan and its southeastern neighbor.

Finally, China can help contribute to Afghanistan's political stability by playing a more active role in supporting the Afghan government's security establishment.

Working closely with the international community, China should help in training and equipping Afghan national security personnel.

Also, China can help Kabul share the economic burden of paying its security bills until the latter can do this on its own.

Through political, security and economic cooperation, China can lead more effective efforts to bring lasting stability to Afghanistan and the wider region.

Through revived regional trade, China can also create economic prosperity for not only Afghans or Chinese, but all of the peoples of South and Central Asia.

--

This article was also published on Global Times at: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/874069.shtml

Afghans Successfully Conduct Run-Off Presidential Elections

Afghans once again proved they want peace and democracy to prevail in their homeland.

On June 14, nearly 7 million Afghans, 31 percent of them women, turned out to vote in the historic run-off Presidential elections in Afghanistan.

This is the first time Afghanistan is preparing for an elected president to transfer power to another candidate through the ballot box.

The fact that this election has attracted so much interest in Afghanistan and received a big voter turnout proves Afghans have come a long way in leading their nation and in defying those not wanting the democratic process to succeed.

The Election Campaigns

Afghans were left to choose from two candidates: Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, when the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan announced in May 2014 that none of the candidates had secured 50%+1 of the total votes.

In the official election campaigns, candidates reached out to their constituencies across Afghanistan to secure votes. The candidates promised many to do(s) from restructuring the political system to establishing new provinces in the country, from building the economy and roads to improving human rights.

Media outlets were also busy. Some worked directly for broadcasting political campaigns for one of the candidates; others benefited from lucrative and colorful advertisements. However, most of the media outlets were disappointed when one of the candidates intentionally turned downed requests for a public debate with the other candidate.

The Election Day

The election-day in Afghanistan was a festive one. Despite security threats, Afghans came out in large numbers to vote. Men and women, young and the old wanted to vote and be part of the history in making in Afghanistan.

In some provinces, music accompanied the election process. Further live coverage from Afghanistan’s vibrant media outlets, the TVs in particular, made it possible for Afghans to watch the process in the comfort of their homes and be independent observers on the ballot boxes.

In the midst of all these efforts, Afghan security forces were the real heroes. They were the ones that made Afghans proud by making the day a relatively peaceful one across the country. Minor security incidents were reported but none threatened the election process. The security forces proved they are capable of keeping order in tact and they can be counted on as national heroes of this war-torn country.

Results of the Elections

Afghanistan election law requires all complaints to be attended to before partial and final results are announced. The Independent Election Commission for Complaints collects all grievances from the candidate’s group, reviews them and in light of them approves or disapprove the results of a polling station.

After all complains are addressed, the results are sent to the Independent Election Commission for announcement. The initial results of today’s elections are due on July 2 while the final results are due sometime later in July.

Afghans eagerly look forward to hearing these results and ask on both candidates to accept the results. They expect both Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ghani to be responsible Afghan leaders that will respect the decision of the Afghan people and continue to play a stabilizing role in Afghanistan; otherwise, they risk national disapproval.

Work Waiting the New President

After President Obama has announced for the US military draw down and eventual reduction of forces to only a few hundred by end of 2016 in Afghanistan, a major job waiting a new Afghan president is to prepare for this transition.

Afghan forces still need support to be prepared in dealing with the insurgency and security threats here. A new president would also need to keep international support mainly from the US through the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) to maintain the necessary resources for this transition to be successful.

Other than the security transition, another challenge facing the new Afghan leadership is putting an end to the Taliban insurgency in the country. Afghans understand that in order for the country to maintain its achievements of the last decade, it needs viable and sustainable peace. This isn’t possible without reaching a truce with all insurgent groups including the Taliban. A new president would need to have a new approach to making this happen.

Beyond the challenges in political scenario, Afghanistan also needs to further its economic development agenda. The country still grapples with poverty, lack of investment and jobs for the youth in particular. Also, Afghanistan is faced with a declining international aid environment.

Therefore, a new leader would need to have the necessary skills and political will to better manage its internal resources. This includes ending the perception of corruption and exploring alternative resources such as trade facilitation, revenue mobilization and natural resource management to boost economic growth and development.

The Way Forward for Afghanistan

Today, Afghans once again proved they want peace and democracy to prevail in their homeland. They are not afraid to go out and vote despite numerous challenges; on the contrary, Afghans are ever resilient and committed to bringing a change and lead Afghanistan’s march towards a mature and stable democracy.

However, in order for this resilient country to build on its recent achievements and avoid relapse to a weak state vulnerable to conflicts and interventions, Afghanistan still needs strong international support mainly from Washington. Many Afghans hope this will continue well beyond 2014.

--

This article was also published on Sharnoff Global Views at http://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/afghans-presidential-elections-331/

يوه څوکی او ۱۱ کاندیدان

يوه څوکی او ۱۱ کاندیدان

محب ارسلان

د اپریل په ۵ نیټه میلیونونه افغانان د ګواخونو ، ستونزو ، سړی او بارانی هوا سره سره د رایو ورکولو محلونو ته ورغلل او خپله رایه یی وکاروله.  دی کار دنیاوال هیران کړل، هغوی دا هیله نه درلوده چی په دومره شمیر ډیر افغانان په داسی نسبتا سختو شرایطو کی به د رایو ورکولو تلوسه او عزم ولری.  خو افغانانو دا کار وکړ او جمهور ریس کرزی ته یی دا زمینه برابره کړه چی د افغانستان په تاریخ کی لمړنی ولسمشر شی چی واک  بل کاندید ته د رایو د لاری په مصالحت امیزه توګه د قانون په چوکاټ کی انتقال کړی.

خو یوه ستونزه چی ډیرو افغانانو په دی پروسه کی تجربه کړه هغه د کاندیدانو تعدد وو.  نام خدا یولس کاندیدانو دا ادعا کړی وه چی سل زره کارتونه یی د افغانستان د ۲۴ ولایتونو څخه راټول کړی او ددوی پلویان دی.  په دی یولس کاندیدانو کی داسی څهری هم راښکاره شوی چی نه خو یی علمی او نه یی هم ملکی اهلیت درلوده.  د نتایجو د پایلو د اعلان وروسته دا جوته شوه چی یا خو دوی چا تیر وستی وو او یا خو هم دوی د افغانانو د یوه موټی کیدو سره نه علاقه درلوده او نه یی پکی خپلی شخصی ګټی لیدلی.

د نوموړو کاندیدانو یواځینی لاسته راوړنه داوه چی د خلکو رایی  یی تقسیم کړی او پری نښودل چی د مخکښو کاندیدانو څخه یی یو هم د ۵۰ فیصدو څخه د زیاتو رایو اکثریت لاسته راوړی.  خو یوه ګټه یی وکړه او هغه داوه چی پر دی متیقن شول چی په واقعی ډول د خلکو په منځ کی د دوی محبوبیت څو فیصده دی. 

د نوموړو فیصدو په پام کی نیولو سره افغانانو باید یو درس زده کړی وی او هغه دادی چی په راتلونکی کی یواځی څو کاندیدانو ته د نامزدی شرایط برابر کړی او د یوی مړی ډوډی، څادر او یا خولی په بدل کی خپل کارتونه داسی کاندیدانو ته ورنکړی چی په سلو کی یی د ګټلو امکان یو فیصد هم نه وی.  که نه د همدی ځل ټاکنو د تجربی په اساس به په راتلونکی کی هم خپل وجدان ته او هم خپل  خالق ته ملامت وی. 

افغانستان یو غریب ملک دی، هغه دارای چی اوس د ټاکنو په دوهم پړاوو لږول کیږی ، هغه باید د افغانانو د ژوند په ښه کولو لږیدلی وای .  اوس نو قضاوت زمونږ دی چی دغه اخوا دیخوا کاندیدان څومره د افغانانو او یا افغانستان  سوکالی ته مخلص وو؟  

افغانستان بعد از ۲۰۱۴ 

محب ارسلان

امریکا و متحدین آن پلان خروج نیروهای نظامی خود را ازافغانستان اعلام نموده و تعداد زیادی از آنها شروع به خروج نیروها و کارزارهای نظامی خود را کرده اند. برای بدست اوردن این هدف و تطبیق برنامه واگذاری قدرت به  افغانها چندین برنامه ها روی کار هستند.

یک برنامه واگذاری مسولیت امنیتی به نیرو های افغان است.  حالا اردوی افغانستان عملیات نظامی را مستقیما رهبری میکنند و نظامیان خارجی در این زمینه نیروی های افغان را با امکانات مالی، تخنیکی و وسایل همکاری مینمایند.  همچنان پولیس ملی افغان مسلکی شده اند و مسولیت امنیت را در شهرهای افغانستان بدوش دارند.

در پهلوی اخذ مسولیت امنیتی و نظامی، افغانها مسولیت رهبر کردن کارهای انکشافی را نیز بدوش خود گرفته اند.  دولت افغانستان ملکیت برنامه های انکشافی و عامه را میگیرد و سکتور خصوصی خدمات و کار ها را انجام میدهد که کمپنی های خارجی ان را در گذشته انجام مینمودند.  

مقایسه حالات امروزی با حالات سال های ١٩٩٠

بعضی ها شرایط افغانستان را ممثل شرایط میدانند که شوروی ها  از افغانسان بیرون رانده شدند.  آن زمان دولت افغانستان ضعیف بود و با یک شورش قوی ایدولوژیک روبرو بود، بیکاری در بین جوان ها زیاد بود و حالات کلی اقتصادی بد بود.  همچنان روابط افغانستان با کشور های همسایه به خصوص با پاکستان وضیعت بد داشت.  

دولت فعلی افغانستان نیز با چنین چالشها روبرو است، اما شرایط امروزی کشور با شرایط سال های ١٩٩٠ به کلی متفاوت است.

امروز قانون اساسی افغانستان این کشور را یک جمهوری اسلامی خوانده است.  پس هیچ کدام دلیلی برای شورش علنی ایدولوژیک وجود ندارد.  همچنان  دولت فعلی افغانستان در انزوای بین المللی قرار ندارد.  امروز افغانستان با تعداد کثیر از کشورهای غربی و منطقه روابط خوب دارد و با آنها قراردادهای ستراتیژیک را امضا نموده اند.  این قرار دادها تداوم روابط افغانستان را با کشورهای مهم جهان تعریف نموده و تعهد آنها را به افغانستان بعد از سال ٢٠١٤ م  واضح میسازد. علاوه بر این قرارداد های ستراتیژیک، افغانستان در حال گفتگو  در مورد قرارداد امنیتی دو جانبه با ایالات متحده امریکا است.  این قرار داد برای تداوم روابط افغانستان با ایالات متحده امریکا و باقی ماندن یک تعداد محدود نظامیان آنها در افغانستان لازمی است.  لویه جرگه افغانها به ریس جمهور کرزی مشوره داد تا این قرارداد را با در نظرداشت منافع ملی افغانستان امضا نماید.  با وجود چنه زنیهای دوامدار بین کرزی و ایالات متحده امریکا، بعید نیست که این سند به امضا برسد و زمینه بودن نظامیان امریکایی  را در افغانستان بعد از سال ۲۰۱۴م در یک چارچوب دوجانبه قانونی سازد.

تغیریات دیگر نیز امروز مشاهده میشود که در سالهای ١٩٩٠ تصور آن هم نمی شد.  در آن زمان تنها چند پوهنتون های محدود دولتی وجود داشت و آنها هم چندان امکانات را نداشتند.  امروز در پهلوی دانشگاهای دولتی،  به صدها موسستا تعلیمی و تحصیلی خصوصی محصلین افغان را آموزش میدهند.  سیستم خصوصی صحی هیچ موجود نداشت، امروز به صدها شفاخانها و کلینیک های خصوصی در پهلوی شفاخانهای دولتی فعال هستند و خدمات صحی را به افغانها فراهم میسازند.  بعضی از این ادارت خارجی هستند که نمونه آن کلینیک جرمن در شهر نو کابل است که خدمات را به سطح بین المللی به افغانها ارایه مینماید. همچنان انکشافات که در سکتور تعمیر زیربناها، رشد تکنالوژی معلوماتی و مخابراتی، بانکداری، هوانوردی، تجارت و خدمات ترانسپورتی مشاهده میشود، در تاریخ افغانستان بی نظیر میباشند.  

نظر افغانها در مورد تحولات فعلی

افغانهای عادی این تحولات را نادیده نمی گیرند.  آنها میدانند که پیشرفت افغانستان زمینه کار را مساعد ساخته و تاثیر مثبت را بالای زندگی آنها داشته است.  با یک تکسی ران کابل که در مورد تحولات و پیشرفتهای افغانستان صحبت میکردم برایم گفت که اصلاً افغانستان امروز با سال های ١٩٩٠ قابل مقایسته نیست.  امروز یک افغان فرصتهای زیادی را برای کسب تعلیم و تربیه دارد، میتواند به راحت به بسیاری از ولایات کشور و یا هم بیرون از کشور سفر نماید.  در سالهای ١٩٩٠ مردم نمی توانست تا از شرق به غرب کابل بروند.   

با این که انتخابات پیشرو ریاست جمهوری و بعضی از مسایل دیگر افغانها را برای اینده خود و کشور شان نگران میکند ، اما هیچ کدام آنها خواهان حالات سال های ١٩٩٠ و یا برگذشت به آن نیستند.  افغانها میدانند که هم خود شان و هم بعضی از خارجی ها خون و ثروت خود را برای ایجاد حالات امروزی صرف نموده اند و به آن هرج میگذارند.

 افغانها میخواهند که انتخابات ارام را داشته باشند، با دنیا روابط نزدیک داشته باشند، با همسایه گان روابط خوب به اساس احترام متقابل داشته باشند و به صورت کلی حرکت خود را به سوی یک افغانستان مرفع و ارام ادامه دهند.  اما یک موضوع مهم تعریف و تسریع کننده تمام این خواسته  ها بعد از سال ٢٠١٤ م میباشد:  آن موضوع تقویه اتحاد ذات البینی بین تمام اقوام و اقشار افغان است.  

پس بحیث یک افغان (پسر و یا دختر این سرزمین)، باید در محدوده صلاحیت و مسولیت خود برای اتحاد افغانها و تقویه روحیه ملی مسولیت خود را شناساسی و اجرا نمایم.

Afghan Elections: A Proof of Success in Afghanistan

As Afghanistan continues to transition towards democracy, it is important for the world to realize that intervention has not failed.

Afghan men line up for the registration process before they cast their votes at a polling station in Kabul. Credit: AP

In the 12 years that the West has spent in Afghanistan since 2002, some analysts are now calling the mission a total failure and insist on a complete withdrawal.

Their argument is that the West cannot “impose” a democratic governing system on a traditional Afghan society, which they refer to as tribal and resentful to change.

Media coverage of Afghanistan has disheartened Western opinion. Most do not know about other developments in the country. A closer examination reveals that the mission is not a failure, but a worthy effort for enduring freedom.

Afghanistan post-Taliban

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the country had plunged into a chaotic war zone. Warring factions that once stood together with Western and regional support against the Soviet Army and Communist regime in Kabul had turned on each other making living in Afghanistan practically impossible.

Fueled with regional interventions and international politics of the Cold War, systematic radicalization was breeding in Afghanistan in such that tolerance for human dignity, Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and women rights had vanished.

The situation continued until the unfortunate 9/11 events when the world realized committing a major mistake by leaving Afghanistan in the 1980s after the withdrawal of the Soviet Union to the mercy of the gunmen and bad regional politics.

Afghanistan post-Karzai

After the Bonn Agreement in 2002, Afghanistan regained recognition. The country started a difficult march towards instituting a new constitution, forming a transitional government and then holding elections to nominate their first democratic leadership in more than 30 decades. All went well.  Today Afghanistan has a progressive constitution in the region; and elections have been held successfully.

Furthermore, international development aid coupled with currency and private sector licensing reforms has helped the country to rebuild its economy. Economic growth jumped and remained at nearly 10 percent during the last decade; it is still growing.

For instance, Afghanistan now has many commercial banks, private schools and universities, a vibrant telecommunication sector, paved roads, and a functioning national army and police force.

Looking towards the future, Afghanistan still has great potential for becoming a transportation hub between Central and South Asia; the Middle East and China; and for becoming a vibrant explorer and exporter of its abundant natural resources.

In addition, more Afghans including women are going to school and vocational institutions resulting in a new and young natural resource for the country that will capitalize on new opportunities. The country’s other sectors such as agriculture, health and education, carpets and minerals provides huge investment opportunities to investors all over the world. In a decade or so and good management from Afghan leadership, these sectors would lead to Afghanistan become independent of foreign aid and able to pay its own bills.

Security has improved. Afghan security institutions have become more professional and have taken the responsibility for keeping Afghan streets safer. Afghans are ever resilient to continue with these developments and further transform the country to a more prosperous one in the region.

Recent Afghan Elections

Afghans went to polls on April 5 to vote for a new president and members of the provincial councils across Afghanistan. Pre-election threats of violent incidences did not scare Afghans. The atmosphere in Kabul in the last week before the elections was sober with many in-country foreigners opting to leave for Dubai, Delhi or even Washington to mitigate security risks.

On April 5, however, Afghans stunned the world.

They came out in huge numbers all across the country to be part of making history by giving President Hamid Karzai the opportunity to become the first elected Afghan president to transfer political power to the next presidential hopeful through the ballot box.

Afghans also proved that they want the ballots to rule the country, not bullets anymore. More than 7 million Afghans of the nearly 12 million registered voters came out vote. The polling day was a festive national celebration for all Afghans. Afghan security establishments provided security to voters; it was an Afghan effort for Afghans. No major security incident was allowed to happen.

Election results are expected in a couple of weeks after the election commission has addressed all concerns. An important lesson has been that unlike other war-stricken countries or other countries in the region, Afghans value democracy and value the process to elect their leadership through the ballot box.

Moving Forward

Entering the transitional decade in Afghanistan, it is important for the world to realize that their intervention in Afghanistan is not a failure.

It is vital to understand that Afghans have a solution and that they want a more pluralistic, democratic society. Most Afghans eye on a model country where law rules and Afghan women are also an integral part of the development processes in the country.

However, it’s equally important to understand that Afghanistan still needs international engagement and support to sustain these mutual achievements. A continued so-called light footprint engagement accompanied with sound investment and assistance to the country will also be an important to realize and build on the sacrifices of the hundreds of men and women who have fallen on the way to bringing peace to the country at the heart of Asia.