"With NATO withdrawal, Afghanistan will have to guard against its neighbors"
Kabul (AsiaNews) - "The real problem is not when the Western military forces leave the country, but what kind of Afghanistan there will be: if the political and economic class will be able to stand on its own merits, against the risk of a military coup or interference from neighboring countries". While in Italy and other countries controversy over when to withdraw the military from Afghanistan is mounting, speaking to AsiaNews local sources describe a country tired of war and terrorist attacks.
"We have known from the start - says a source, who has requested anonymity - that the foreign military forces would have to leave, sooner or later. Yet for a long time the creation of the Afghan army has taken precedence, rather than social programs that are the foundation of a democracy: hospitals, roads, schools and housing. Initially the Afghan army counted about 80 thousand men, now there are over 200 thousand, with modern equipment: this is where a large part of international funds has been spent. Instead, public works and infrastructure have been financed largely by private funds. "
For our source, the debate over whether to arm more NATO forces is "a false problem." "For almost 10 years - he says – we have had the NATO forces, the Afghan army, armed private guards, intelligence services, and all of them have failed to stamp out Taliban fighters. Moreover, everyone knows that the training camps and Taliban strongholds are not here but in neighboring countries like Pakistan. "
"The civilian population is weary of what many call 'the occupation forces'. People want a little peace, prosperity, they want the streets clear of security barriers against the attacks, they want the daily attacks to cease. After all these years, it seems likely that the Taliban might return to power, they are against the civil society, particularly women who are the engine of development in Afghanistan. "
"But when Western forces leave, it will be crucial that the country is prepared not only from a military standpoint, but also politically and economically. It is necessary that the political class is attentive to the problems of the country and not corrupt. For example, few in the West talked about the recent failure of the Kabul Bank, a leading private bank in Afghanistan. Huge sums were withheld, and ended up in Dubai, many savers lost their money. It seems that the vice president of the bank was the brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai".
"Afghanistan will need the help of neighboring countries. But it should have enough strength to remain independent. Many neighboring countries want to extend their influence here, especially those who have ethnic roots in common with the local population, such as Tajiks, Uzbeks, but especially Pakistan”.
The controversy of recent days concerns U.S. military and international donors funds, which allotted for use in construction projects and civil infrastructure, have finished in the hands of the Taliban. Mohamed Ehsan, owner of a construction company, admitted to having given the rebels more than 200 thousand dollars, destined for the repair of a road in Logar province, as a ransom after they had kidnapped his brother.
Even the elders of various villages have admitted that they had to pay the Taliban substantial part of funds received to carry out public works: Aslam Jan village of Baraki (Logar) had to give them about 4 thousand of 10 thousand U.S. dollars received for public works.
"Stories such as these have been around for yeas - the sources say- and usually explode in particular moments, such as after major attacks. It is hard to know how much is true. "
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