July 30, 2021

Afghanistan: the battle over narratives and the heavy coffins

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Afghanistan, Pakistan, USA
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

As Afghans continue to carry the heavy coffins of the young and old, the international community and their immediate neighbors largely choose to remain focused on the senseless war’s religious connotations, the evils of strategic depth and self-righteousness.

Let it be made utterly clear that no one near and far has the right to promote and praise the bloodshed of others in any name by hijacking a sacred ideology.

The narrative and perceptions regarding the Taliban as an insurgent force bent upon the revival of their hardline regime first emerged globally with the US giving in to their many demands for a safe passage of American troops, regardless of the outcome. 

It was followed by many other countries that followed the pattern of brokering deals with the group in order to preserve and protect their interests in Afghanistan, again, regardless of the ramifications.

What the Afghans began to see after the foreign forces started departing in May has been an unleashing of a full-blown military invasion on their country by the hostile regional powers through a group that had a very limited capacity to carry out such actions, let alone roots and support among the masses. 

The UN has documented an alarming 5,183 civilian casualties, 783 killed and 1,609 injured in Afghanistan in the first half of this year - a 47 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2020.

In its mid-year report, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed serious concerns over the acute rise in the number of civilians killed and injured in the period starting 1 May, with almost as many civilian casualties in the May-June period as recorded in the entire preceding four months.

This period corresponds with the exit date announced by the US President Joe Biden for the American troops from Afghanistan, which followed mounting assaults and advances of the Taliban insurgents.

Tragically, more women and children were killed and injured in the first half of this than any first-half of any previous calendar year, according to UNAMA.
 
Alongside the cheering from Pakistan, the Taliban’s long standing backer, is utterly appalling to see Afghanistan’s other neighbours and global powers such as the US, China and Russia legitimising the Taliban as a ‘normal’ political entity. 

Meanwhile, worrying reports reveal forced marriages and targeted assassination spree of civilians accused of serving the Afghan government by the Taliban.

The mass exodus of Afghans from the areas captured by the Taliban are clear signs that people in this war-ravaged country do not want to go back and live under the insurgents’ dark regime.

The power quarters in Afghanistan’s neighbourhood and around the world must, at least, acknowledge the situation as it is if they cannot extend any help.

Image: United Nations Photo. 

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