By Barkat Ullah.
The people of Afghanistan, after facing war for four decades, are once again on the verge of another severe crisis. After the takeover by the Taliban, the international community has abandoned Afghanistan, due to which a humanitarian crisis is unfolding which will have catastrophic impacts for the people of Afghanistan. A number of United nations’ agencies uncover the drastic economic collapse of Afghanistan by narrating the possible contraction of its economy by 30 percent. Moreover, they further reveal that about 97 percent of the population are going below the line of poverty. Similarly, in this winter, People especially hundreds of thousands of children, lack food and health facilities.
About 75 percent of the Afghanistan economy is directly dependent on the foreign aid. After the Taliban’s control, this foreign assistance has been stopped by the international community and western powers, which has pushed the situation in Afghanistan to a critical level. Thousands of government servants are not paid for several months which are facing devastation. Irrespective of who is ruling Kabul, it is the common people in Afghanistan that are suffering in such nervous circumstances.
Keeping such alarming situations for the millions of Afghani people, three kinds of parties need to step forward and adopt a practical road map for the immediate assistance of the vulnerable Population of Afghanistan.
Firstly, the role of the Afghanistan government is very important in this regard. The Taliban before coming in power, made several commitments of synergy and collaboration with the international community. It also promised regarding Human rights, inclusive government, Eradication of terrorism and women empowerment and education etc. After taking the driving seat of government, Taliban needs to fulfil their promises and frame a comprehensive framework for the accomplishment of these goals. Similarly, it is very important for the Taliban to convince the international Community regarding their efforts in these areas so that they can make humanitarian assistance on the emergency basis.
Secondly, the Role of the United Nations, European Union and The US is extremely important in this regard. The United States of America has recognized the political legitimacy of the Taliban at a time when it signed a peace deal with the Taliban last year in Doha. At a time when the Taliban were accelerating its offences in Afghanistan, the US and its allies were talking with them for a safe passage for their troops in order to exit Afghanistan. This all happened and the Taliban insurgents gained ground which made them able to capture Kabul and ousted Ghani. At a time when the Taliban has become a reality in Afghanistan, the US and other western powers should keep the politics and humanity aside from each other and take immediate measures for the well-being of the Afghani People. Politics can be done any time, but in these circumstances the lives of millions of children and women are more important and it should be protected at any cost.
Similarly, the Muslim world should also play a constructive a proactive role in curbing the possible humanitarian crisis in the war suffered country. The extraordinary meeting of the council of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC was a right call in this regard. Pakistan played a timely and significant role in bringing attention of the Muslim community to the disastrous situations of Afghanistan. However, it might not be enough and the international community in general and the OIC in particular should frame a comprehensive road map regarding the future of the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, as the issue needs a settlement on a permanent basis.
The meeting of the OIC that occurred in the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad, decided to take several initiatives for helping the poor and highly vulnerable people of Afghanistan. For instance, several states agreed to give aid, food and medicine in order to protect the people of Afghanistan in this winter. In my opinion, such measures can help the people of Afghanistan on a temporary basis but it lacks efficiency and inclusiveness. Without recognizing the government of the Taliban, all that aid might go in the wrong hands and there is much possibility that the majority of the people will be deprived from the assistance. Therefore, the aid may be only fruitful and long lasting, if it is handed over to the respective authorities of Kabul and distributed through proper mechanisms.
If the current situations continue in Afghanistan in the coming several months, there are pretty much chances of another civil war in Afghanistan. The Taliban government in Kabul will fail to protect the basic interests of the common people. As a result of which people will rise against the Kabul administration and the country will go into another destructive war which will have devastating impacts for the neighbors like Pakistan and Iran. Similarly, certain terrorist groups like the Islamic State Khorasan ISK and Tahrik Taliban Pakistan TTP can take the benefit of the current situation, and again Afghanistan can become a hub of international terrorism.
