Afghanistan is one of the countries largely influenced by the menace of corruption. Corruption has, in fact, penetrated deep within different institutions in the country and has crippled the overall systems. Afghanistan has, therefore, failed to deliver maximum at the time when the development has been required the most and, in the process, has also lost some golden opportunities. Corruption has been lethal enough to annihilate the efforts or the plans to reconstruct the country and the different systems that may set it on the way to development.
There seems to be no doubt in the fact that one of the basic reasons of the persistent rise in corruption in Afghanistan is the lack of commitment and honest efforts to control and eradicate this menace. Neither the previous government, nor the current National Unity Government (NUG) has shown real efforts to face it seriously. Therefore, the serpent has survived and has become reckless and out of control. In fact, it would now require a bold step to stand against it as it would, definitely, devour wholly the person who may confront it.
It is a real challenge now for the Afghan government to stand against it. However, a solid and dedicated effort against it can make a difference. It is not altogether impossible to defeat it. Definitely, strict measures are required, temperaments would be tested, institutions would be questioned, the powerful would have to be threatened; in short, the whole mechanism would be shaken if there are real and honest efforts. And, it should be noted that there is no alternative for Afghanistan. The way it is following leads to chaos and instability. If it has to change its route it must decide now and act accordingly. At least, the Afghan government must act according to its promises it made in the early days of its formation.    
The Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (MEC) on Sunday, February 14, blamed leaders of the NUG for failing to deliver on their promises to fight corruption in the country. They also said that government’s attempts to fight corruption have been feeble. Meanwhile, the findings of the fact finding committee tasked to probe the controversial Smart City project, with former Kabul Bank defaulter Khalilullah Forozi, reveals that the president’s former legal advisor, the ministry of urban development affairs, the attorney general’s office and Kabul Bank clearance department acted against the law in signing the controversial project with Forozi.
It is threatening to find the top government institutions that should be the guardians of law and must set example for others are themselves involved in corruption. There are different individuals, on high posts, who take certain decisions keeping only their own personal benefits in consideration. Therefore, it can be seen that the claimed development in Afghanistan has only benefitted a particular stratum in the society, while the majority remain poor and in pathetic condition.
The authoritative individuals in Afghanistan use opportunities and even law for changing the status of their own bank balance, not the conditions in the country. For Afghan government the task starts from itself. It has to do a self-assessment, must check its ranks and strive to cleanse itself of corrupt individuals and practices. However, the question then remains the same – why should it do so if it is gaining advantages from it? It is difficult to answer such a question. Nonetheless, in such a condition the others factions of the society must play its role.
The supporting nations, who provide aid to the country must ensure its best utilization. They must have zero tolerance policy against corruption. They should make sure that the aids that they provide do not end in the bank accounts of certain individuals but actually reach to the targeted communities. The prevailing poverty and multiplying miseries of the poor people in different parts of the country even after receiving millions in aid must be enough example for the supporting nations to ensure best utilization of their aid.
In addition to that the independent institutions, civil society and media (including social media) can play their role in pressuring the government to curb corruption. Though the voices of civil society and media are not heard in the way they should be heard but they can never go unnoticed. Recently, the role of the civil society and media in Afghanistan has become louder and more influential and it can have certain pressure on the government to take necessary measures against corruption. Moreover, the civil society and media in Afghanistan can observe the other countries and can take lessons from them where the media and civil societies have been able to change the entire system.   At the end, it is the responsibility of the people as a whole to keep a check on the political and social issues and play their roles in changing them. Afghan people, especially youth, are not the same as 15 years ago. There are marked changes, which can be felt by different factors in the society. Therefore, they can now play their role in changing the government policies and practices. People, as a whole, are a great power. They can pressurize government and other institutions to take measures so as to curb the menace of corruption. Moreover, they can play a role in curbing corruption by saying no to it in their daily lives and interactions.