With international community’s financial and non-financial support, noteworthy improvements are observable in democracy, civil society activities, human rights, media, education and other important sectors. Nonetheless, all those gains are fragile as security remains at worst and the future stands completely bleak. The government of Afghanistan has a very crucial role to play at this crucial time.
Withdrawal of most of the international troops from Afghanistan is to take place by the end of 2014 or even before that. The cooperation from international community will, no doubt, diminish. But this is the time our political leaders must set aside their differences and come together at one platform to save Afghanistan from once again turning into an epicenter for Islamic extremist groups like Taliban and Al-Qaida.
Today, after more than eleven years of international effort and establishment of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), the lives of the people of Afghanistan are still at the mercy of militants. Insurgents continue suicide/roadside bombings, targeted killings, abductions, etc. And not end to such acts appears to be happening. Afghanistan requires formulation of better national and foreign policies and decision making in the best of interest of Afghans. In addition, there is a need for an overall institutional reform aimed at improving transparency and accountability. All and all, it is our government that must plan to make uses of the opportunities available to it by learning from its past mistakes and mistakes of the ex-governments of Afghanistan.
The almost 12 years were the best ever opportunity for our war-torn country, Afghanistan, to pave its path and strengthen its foundations for long-term development. If Afghan leadership had planned better, today would have a completely different Afghanistan that would not hesitate that it will face security and economic chaos after the pull-out of NATO forces. But unfortunately, we are still highly dependent on the international community for maintaining our development and moving towards stability and long-term peace. Indeed, stability in Afghanistan can prevail if international support to this country continues and does not stop with the withdrawal of NATO troops.
The security has gone deteriorating. Meanwhile the government has not had any significant achievement in fight against corruption, social injustice, poppy cultivation and poverty. The international community has done and still doing much for us. However, it is time for the Afghan government to help this country start standing on its own feet. But for making such a thing happen, there is need for a true political will to get Afghanistan out of the challenges it is facing.