Peaceful Afghanistan

There is hope that the world will see a peaceful Afghanistan after four decades of war and destruction as Taliban prepare to reveal their government (“Taliban prepare to reveal new government amid economic, humanitarian crisis,” Sept.2, Gulf Today).

Afghanistan’s Taliban were preparing on Thursday to unveil their new government as the new rulers struggled to keep the country functioning after the final withdrawal of US forces, with foreign donors alarmed about an impending humanitarian crisis.

More than two weeks after they captured Kabul and there was an end to 20 years of war, the economy teetered on the edge of collapse

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ stockpiles of food in Afghanistan could run out this month, a senior official warned on Wednesday, threatening to add a hunger crisis to the challenges facing the country’s new Taliban rulers as they try to restore stability after decades of war.

About one-third of the country’s population of 38 million doesn’t know if they will have a meal every day, according to Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN’s humanitarian chief in Afghanistan.

It is time for the Taliban to prove what they said that there will be no revenge, people will live their lives with all their rights, women will be allowed to work and girls will be allowed to continue their education.  After more than forty years of war and instability, Afghanistan is comparatively calm, but a state of uncertainty is there. The future of peaceful Afghanistan depends on the new government and the world’s cooperation with the new administration.

It is also time for the world to help the new Afghan administration cope with the economic and humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan has suffered a lot.  The long wars in Afghanistan have destroyed everything, millions of people sacrificed their lives during the conflict. Afghanistan needs the world’s genuine support to make people’s lives better. A peaceful Afghanistan is a guarantee of a peaceful region. I hope peace will prevail in Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan will enjoy peace and a better life in their country.

Abdul Latif — By email