No good news from Afghanistan
Paul | 23.03.2004 12:31 | London | Oxford
Morale in the UN is low and the biggest outbreak of fighting since the defeat of the Taliban. Things are not looking too good in Afghanistan. This is a personal diary from a UN worker in the north of Afghanistan.
Lots happening here in Afghanistan but not much good.
On the 20th March Afghanistan celebrated the New Year. It is now 1383. It did not start very auspiciously with a few crushed to death and many injured in Mazar where thousands went to celebrate.
Rocket propelled grenades have been fired at a UN team looking at possible voter registration sites in a provenance near the Pakistan boarder. Operational plans for the registration are being changed again. Apparently enough people decided that three weeks to register about 9 million was not very practical. The time frame now is not very clear but elections will happen in some form before the American presidential elections. September is the best guess at the moment. A number of good, yes good, UN staff are leaving or about to. One occupying a top position said it was about time the UN learned from experience. 'The UN's method is not working. It is time to rethink and change'. This will not happen of course. Moral is low and many are trying to leave the sinking ship.
One of the most powerful warlords in the country, Ismail Khan, is not too pleased as his son was assassinated yesterday. So far over a 100 have been killed and the commander responsible for the assassination has retreated to the hills. Ismail Khan is not the sort to forget even if his son was a corrupt alcohol-drinking womanizer. As the commander allegedly responsible for the killing was put there by the central government there is talk of a conflict between Kazai and the Northern Alliance. 1,500 soldiers of the national army have been sent there to maintain order.
A couple of friends of mine missed death by seconds recently when an anti tank mine was electronically detonated only 10 seconds in front of their vehicle.
I may have another job with IOM (International Organisation for Migration) but still in Afghanistan. I am likely to be going to Kandahar prior to this. Apparently the civic education team is not very strong there and not enough women registered and they want me to kick start it. Kandahar is very much Taliban territory where Islam is far more conservative. I would love to do a mass registration of women there and then get out fast.
On the 20th March Afghanistan celebrated the New Year. It is now 1383. It did not start very auspiciously with a few crushed to death and many injured in Mazar where thousands went to celebrate.
Rocket propelled grenades have been fired at a UN team looking at possible voter registration sites in a provenance near the Pakistan boarder. Operational plans for the registration are being changed again. Apparently enough people decided that three weeks to register about 9 million was not very practical. The time frame now is not very clear but elections will happen in some form before the American presidential elections. September is the best guess at the moment. A number of good, yes good, UN staff are leaving or about to. One occupying a top position said it was about time the UN learned from experience. 'The UN's method is not working. It is time to rethink and change'. This will not happen of course. Moral is low and many are trying to leave the sinking ship.
One of the most powerful warlords in the country, Ismail Khan, is not too pleased as his son was assassinated yesterday. So far over a 100 have been killed and the commander responsible for the assassination has retreated to the hills. Ismail Khan is not the sort to forget even if his son was a corrupt alcohol-drinking womanizer. As the commander allegedly responsible for the killing was put there by the central government there is talk of a conflict between Kazai and the Northern Alliance. 1,500 soldiers of the national army have been sent there to maintain order.
A couple of friends of mine missed death by seconds recently when an anti tank mine was electronically detonated only 10 seconds in front of their vehicle.
I may have another job with IOM (International Organisation for Migration) but still in Afghanistan. I am likely to be going to Kandahar prior to this. Apparently the civic education team is not very strong there and not enough women registered and they want me to kick start it. Kandahar is very much Taliban territory where Islam is far more conservative. I would love to do a mass registration of women there and then get out fast.
Paul
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
O please !!!!!
23.03.2004 13:04
Life for the average citizen in Afghanistan is still hard and in some areas still very risky but let's not forget the advantages liberation has bought.
Freedom of education (in particular for women)
Secular entratment
A rise in average earnings (source UN report Dec 2003)
Running water 24 hours a day in Kabul
Free access to literature and information
Medical supplies
We may all have problems with the motivation of why the USA invaded Afghanistan but don't pretend they haven't improved things there as they have in Iraq.
It's just one of the facts we on the left will have to learn to live with
James
Miss interpritation
23.03.2004 13:55
Most Afghans agree that the woast time was when the Russians had been defeated and the alliance started fighting eachother. Initially (not initilly) the Taliban were welcomed as bringers of stability and stopping the maddness. This was short lived. However, the Northern Alliance warlords have been guilty of just as many killings, oppression etc.
Now there is optimism. unfortunately things are deteriationg and have been for about 8 months and the optimism is founded largely on the UN, many of which are leaving because they do not share this optimism.
For the fraction of the cost of a B2 a tragidy and return to hell here could be avoided.
Paul
Evidence?
23.03.2004 14:50
> Life for the average citizen in Afghanistan is still hard and in some areas still very
> risky but let's not forget the advantages liberation has bought.
>
> Freedom of education (in particular for women)
Outside of Kabul? May we see some evidence for this?
> Secular entratment
Huh??
> A rise in average earnings (source UN report Dec 2003)
I can't find that report: what's your source?
> Running water 24 hours a day in Kabul
May we see some evidence for this?
> Free access to literature and information
What are you talking about?
> Medical supplies
Not sure what you're saying here: you mean they have more medical supplies now than under the US-backed Taliban regime? May we see some evidence for this?
> It's just one of the facts we on the left will have to learn to live with
Who's this "we on the left" that you claim to speak for?
Ian
you make me sick
23.03.2004 15:02
Are you seeing the real Afghanistan ?
I have spent time in various parts of the country ( I provide logistics to the Red Cross among others) and your report just doesn't ring true for the majority of the country. Water flows, people are glad to see their daughters / wives receiving an education, security is better and best of all NO TALIBAN
foger dogder
Evidently all these people are just as deluded.
23.03.2004 19:47
No Taliban, eh. Just Ismail fucking Khan, and about a dozen others brutal dictator-ettes like him, armed to the teeth, all set to kill each other, and doing an exemplary job all round.
Mick