Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Govt. Indifferent to Hasten Recovery of Hazara Abductees

We inhabit a society where falsehood beleaguered the underlying truth, might is deemed right, injustices considered righteousness and corruption, legal course to reach to so called socio-political eminence. Apparently, we owe security apparatus and concerned authorities to look after the entire affairs of the state, whilst facilitating the undertakings of ordinary masses. Nonetheless, the deepening indifference of ruling elite towards the concerns of anguished; murdered and kidnapped citizens worth applause who even dared not to condemn this coward incident by sharing the grievances of affected families. As days passes the fear and apprehension of Hazara deepens who are left awaiting their beloved ones. Elsewhere, in the world every individual counts and are valued; in contrary to our state where dozens don’t matter.

Earlier, around 31 Hazara passengers were kidnapped after identity check by unknown masked men on Kabul-Kandahar highway. The incident took place in Shah Joy district of southern Zabul province wherein the armed men drove away 31 passengers to Khak. Since then there has not been any report about the fate and whereabouts of the poor abducted passengers.

It is the responsibility of a government within a state to ensure peace and security of its citizens. However, the governments that suffer from administrative incapacities fail to guarantee security. And in such states the weaker strata of the society tend to suffer the most. Women, ethnic and religious minorities and the common people as a whole undergo anguish as a result. Afghanistan is also one of the countries where the government has not been able to provide enough security to its people and the common people face different sorts of problems every day.

This clearly shows the level of insecurity in the country. Some armed men stop passenger vehicles, identify certain people and take them to some unknown place without any difficulty. And the most unfortunate fact is that there are no confirmed reports about who abducted them and where they are at the moment.

Since the abduction of these 31 Hazara men, the local community elders along with religious leaders from Jaghury and Rasnah areas have been making concerted efforts for the secure release of the captives through peaceful negotiation, but the efforts remained all fruitless since the kidnapers offered no clear demands.

Recent local reports add based on the returns of the tribal negotiators from the particular location where the captives are taken, saying that they could hardly persuade the community elders for the talk about the missing people. Some of the community elders did not even show interest for the release of the captives and that is not sure whether it is due to unhealthy circumstances being posed by the kidnapers or they are not willing to be involved in the matter, according to reports.

In addition, the government authorities have also remained silent and unclear about the release of the captives. Bitter than all, president Ghani who was believed to change the fate of his nation in his leading has also not talked on this regard since the incident happened. Some of the local outlets indicated that the motive behind the abduction of these 31 innocent men are only because of their ethnic identity, therefore certain government authorities seem calm and did not show a single reaction against the incident for they belong to a particular tribe and that their lives and deaths will make no difference for them.

Hazaras are often the target of sectarian violence at the hands of extremists in Afghanistan. Hazaras were persecuted during the 1990s when the Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan. During the wars, thousands of Hazaras were killed in Bamyan, Mazar Sharif and Kabul by Taliban. Moreover, they were discriminated badly due to their ethnicity.  

Who is responsible for the incident must be sought out quickly and efforts should be hastened to secure the poor victims. The government officials and authorities claim that efforts are underway and certain teams of tribal elders have been assigned as negotiators who are in dialogue with the culprits and there are hopes that the victims will be released.

Zabul Police Chief, Ghulam Jailani Farahi has mentioned that efforts are underway for peaceful and unconditional release of the abducted and if negotiations fail, they can use any other options to free them. Seeking the support of the tribal elders is not a bad idea in this sort of incidents and if pursued with dedicated and sincere efforts there can be certain results. However, it is difficult to expect that the culprits would be ready to free the abducted passengers without any condition. Therefore, government needs to follow carefully whether negotiations are carried out with sincere efforts and that the process does not lead to some sort of tragedy for the poor victims.

At the same time the authorities in Kabul must also ensure that they are fully in picture about every measure that is taken. The National Unity Government must itself pursue the developments in this regard as it is a matter of life and death of more than 31 people. Any negligence in this regard would mean a great and irrecoverable loss.

Hazara constituting a large population of Afghanistan have observed peace and allegiance to the said laws of the land.  The Abduction of Hazara passengers indicates the miseries yet unaddressed amidst government prevalent silence and indifference.