Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Future in Afghanistan



Experts are predicting that the Afghanistan War against the Taliban will end sometime in 2011. The main reason is that the Canadian Parliament and the American House of Representatives will see that this war cannot be won and will decide to withdraw their troops from the area. The fighting in Afghanistan probably will not end until a few years later.

Talking to the Taliban is becoming more important because it might be the only way to bring the unrest to an end. The US, NATO or Afghanistan’s neighbours are beginning to realize that it might not be possible to defeat the Taliban with military force but rather by rebuilding the country or promoting democracy.

It will be important that the West can trust and respect the government that will be built in Afghanistan. By bringing this war to an end, by signing peace treaties between the warring groups, and by selecting a government that is able to knit the country together, the Western countries can hope for some stabilization in Afghanistan. The cultural values in Afghanistan must be respected as well, so it is not realistic to support a government that allow the women to wear make-up and slacks. Women’s rights and female literacy must be allowed to develop without needing military intervention.

It is important not to leave a “power vacuum” when the military moves out of Afghanistan, that is, there needs to be a secure leadership in place so that when the US and their allies leave, the local factions will not start another civil war for control of the country. They need to make sure that high security for the people living there remains in place and that the new government will be stable. Only with this solid and secure base will it be possible for Afghanistan to be able to develop peacefully. I don’t think the soldiers should stay long-term, but for the time being they provide stability to the region.

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