The recent news over what’s happening in Afghanistan is heart-breaking. Despite not monitoring the news as closely as before, my husband alerted me to it when the events broke out.
By evening, I saw the videos circulating on Twitter showing one harrowing scene after another.
This morning, I watched US Pres. Joe Biden’s official statement over what happened. And so began my investigation.
The War That Stretched Too Long
Afghanistan has been at war for as long as they can remember. From the war with the Soviets to the internal civil war to the war with the US Army. They’ve been at war for far too long.
This video by Al Jazeera gives a clear summary about who the Taliban are and why is Afghanistan fighting such a long war.
In Pres. Joe Biden’s speech, he said he wanted the bucket to stop with him. The war with Afghanistan has stretched for far too long and he cannot keep sending generations of Americans to fight their internal battles.
The US war in Afghanistan began with the relentless pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, thought to be the mastermind behind the Sept 11 attacks. It has gone on for 20 years now even as Osama Bin Laden was killed in 2011 by the US Army in Pakistan.
Yet despite accomplishing this 1st mission, the war raged on as the US attempted to help Afghanistan establish a democratic government.
Sadly, after 9 more years of helping the internal battle, the US has called it quits.
What this means for Afghanistan?
When the US government decided to pull out its troops in Afghanistan, they wanted the Afghan government to take a more active role in winning and managing their internal battles.
Is the Afghan government ready and capable? Sadly, no.
As what’s seen now, their government has left the country. The Afghan President, in an act I can call cowardly, fled the country leaving everything to the mercy of the Taliban.
Now, citizens who sided with the reforms brought about by the US occupation are worried for their lives. The Taliban is known for imposing a very strict Islamic rule, and they will most probably be seen as treasonous.
A lot is also in limbo for the country. As they don’t know whether their constitution would be upheld and basic human rights will be honored.
The Taliban are known for restricting basic woman rights to education and free movement.
Is anyone to blame?
I asked myself – is there anyone to blame here? Can we blame the Americans for waging war in the country and leaving it? Some people say, it’s like the Vietnam war all over again.
Can we blame the Afghan government for being cowardly and leaving their citizens to the whims of terrorists?
Can we blame the Taliban who, in their twisted religious views, believe the country is theirs to govern in accordance to their beliefs?
At the end of the day, I realized everyone just wants to impose their own wills and what’s convenient for them.
The US has spent almost a trillion dollars in Afghanistan and lost countless lives along the way. I perfectly understand Biden’s decision to pull out and not let this war drag on.
The Afghan Government, knows they don’t have as much power as the Taliban. They fear for their lives and with the absence of US troops know they cannot defend the democracy they’ve been handed with. So the easy way is to flee and survive.
The Taliban believe it is their native right to govern the land as their ancestors did before them. Whether it seems violent and repressive to the modern world, in their eyes, this is how the law has to be followed.
It’s hard to point fingers really. Everyone has their own side they’re fighting (or fleeing) for.
What’s sad and heartbreaking is that a lot of innocent people are caught in the crossfires.
The Beauty of Afghanistan – soon to be lost?
In this video by Yes Theory, he shared how beautiful yet scary it was to travel to Afghanistan. Yet you can see in the video the warm Afghan people. You can see how hospitable and kind to were to Thomas and Drew. You can see how hopeful they are for peace in their country and to be able to live normal lives.
In this video by Drew Binsky, you can see how majestic and beautiful the country of Afghanistan is. The rich culture from hundreds of years ago has been preserved in this wonderful country.
It’s heartbreaking to know what terrorism can do to this rich heritage.
It’s heartbreaking to know that innocent kids would grow up without access to education and the myriad of opportunities available through technology these days.
It’s heartbreaking that the beauty of the country will be secluded from the world, once again.
What can we do?
I’ve asked this question a hundred times since yesterday. Is there anything I can do for Afghanistan?
Across the internet, various ways to support have sprung up. Take this article from Global Citizen who lists the following ways to help:
- Donate to humanitarian groups like the UNHCR, Visions for Children, Doctors without Borders, and Women for Afghan.
- Support the female journalists in Afghanistan by donating here
- Sign online petitions like the ones asking to protect Afghanistan’s human rights defenders, for US Pres. Biden and Congress to ensure safety of Afghan women’s rights and this one to raise awareness of mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran
- Show support on social media by following & using the hashtags #Afghanistan #HelpAfghanistan #AfghanLivesMatter
- Learn more about the crisis through trustworthy news sources like CNN, BBC, NBC News
Don’t Lose Hope for Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan is developing. It’s far from over.
And that means, there is hope. Hope for a better tomorrow.
I may not have much money or power or connections. But I do have a voice.
A voice to cry out in prayer for peace in Afghanistan. A voice to declare that the terrors will end and they will see the sun shine brightly again.
And, a voice to tell the world that every culture matters. We may be different from each other but that’s the beauty of humanity. I hope we respect that.
Every culture matters. We may be different from each other but that’s the beauty of humanity. I hope we respect that.
Tweet
