The government of national unity is doing nothing to save the country from sliding into anarchy, is what too many of Killid interviewees think. The two leaders, President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have to bury their differences and get on with the task of governing, they say.
Hasibullah, a member of the independent Youth Researchers Union, says he knows young people who were so optimistic about a bright future under the national unity government but they are now disappointed. “Egoism and the insatiable hunger for power of the two leaders are leading the country into greater crisis. Their behavior is such a disappointment,” he says.
Ordinary people are worried about the political uncertainty. Business is at a standstill, and livelihood issues are topmost on people’s minds. Abdul Rahman, an old man, is a daily wage worker. “Hoping that the situation would improve we went to polling centres (last year). We were happy with the formation of the national unity government and happy that our leaders had buried differences. But gradually the disappointment has grown, and also remorse that I gave my vote to them,” he says.
Amena, a grandmother who had dreams for her grandchildren, has bitter words for the leadership. “Oh Abdullah and Ghani!” she cries, “You don’t know the situation of the nation. People are dying, and you are happy in power.”
Elusive solution
It was the US that brokered an end to the stalemate over the presidential elections, and got Ghani and Abdullah to become partners in government. Now with the two reportedly unable to agree on the introduction of the defence minister, head of the special commission for electoral reforms and chief of staff in the Ministry of Defence, Daniel Feldman, US representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan has travelled to Kabul. Informed sources told Killid he is trying to mediate an agreement between the president and chief executive.
Seven months in power, the national unity government has not been able to cobble together a cabinet or appoint governors. All but Kunduz province has acting governors, while corruption is a serious problem and the economy in crisis.
Members of Parliament (MPs) have begun raising questions. There is anger over the slaying of soldiers in Badakhshan, the still missing Hazara passengers who were heard from last in Zabul, and the recent attacks on civilians in Kabul.
Latest figures from UNAMA (UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) show there is no let-up in the record high civilian casualties in the first quarter of 2015. Deaths and injuries from ground engagements remain the leading cause. Civilian casualties rose by 8 percent compared to the same period last year.
Ground fighting between Afghan security forces and anti-Government elements caused 521 civilian casualties (136 civilians killed and 385 injured). The latter were responsible for the largest proportion of total civilian casualties (73 percent).
A UNAMA press statement stated the latest figures further demonstrate a continued rise in women casualties with an increase of 15 percent on the same period last year. Conflict-related violence killed 55 women and injured 117. Child casualties surpassed the unprecedented levels recorded last year with 430 child civilian casualties (123 deaths and 307 injured). In line with increased ground fighting in civilian populated areas, ground engagements remained the leading cause of women and children civilian casualties.
Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs remained the second leading cause of civilian casualties in the first quarter of 2015. Targeted killings were the third leading cause of civilian deaths and injuries. In the first three months of 2015, civilian casualties from targeted killings increased by 34 percent, with UNAMA documenting 309 civilian casualties (217 killed and 92 injured) in 192 separate incidents.
Casualties caused by suicide attacks remained on the same level as 2014 with 268 civilian casualties (55 deaths and 213 injured). Civilian casualties from aerial operations by international military forces declined 42 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014.
Harsh reality
Nilofar Ibrahimi, the MP from Badakhshan speaks her mind. “The people sent two individuals (Ghani and Abdullah) to the palace but they don’t know what is going on in the country and what is the situation of Afghan people,” she says. She insists the two leaders should come before Parliament and explain what they are doing. According to her, if Parliament cannot help, lawmakers should just go home.
Naqibullah Fayeq, the MP from Faryab, told Parliament about the war in his province between security forces and Taleban. There is no governor in Faryab; no one to lead the war, he said. “People of Faryab don’t fear Taleban and ISIS,” he said. “Rather we fear vague political and intelligence situation. We are concerned that Faryab would go out of government hold, and surrender to Taleban and ISIS.”
Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi laments the government’s failure to introduce a defence minister to Parliament at a time of worsening security. Ghani’s candidate for defence minister, General Mohammad Afzal Lodin, withdrew his name for consideration on April 8.
In response to requests from MPs for “serious action against the leaders of the national unity government”, Ibrahimi has said there is need for more discussions to assess the situation before issuing warnings to the government.
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