Finally the government’s continued silence over the artillery barrage on the border has forced people to step out of their homes to protest against the attacks.
Finally the government’s continued silence over the artillery barrage on the border has forced people to step out of their homes to protest against the attacks.On Aug 30, in Kabul and other provinces, there were demonstrations and appeals from citizen groups and political parties tired of waiting for the government to reveal its hand. People expressed their readiness to take a stand against the unprovoked aggression on the border by Pakistan.
A demonstrator in the Afghan capital said, “The aim of the demonstration is to show the anger and hate against Pakistan and announce our solidarity with the noble people of Kunar and Nuristan.”
Abdul Jameel, another participant who willingly shared his name, said: “The attacks of Pakistan on our country are entirely illegal. We will help the suffering people of Kunar. We request the government to provide the weapons.”
Abdul Wakeel who had come from Sarpol province to participate in the demonstration, said: “We are ready to fight against the country that wants to either occupy or disturb our borders and make our people homeless.”
Political parties like Afghanistan’s National Partnership Party (NPP) and WefaqMili (national coordination) were part of the protests. NPP leader Najeebullah Kabuli, who addressed the demonstrators, warned people to be vigilant. The UN Security Council and Afghanistan’s allies have failed to intervene in the attacks by Pakistan, he said. He warned the government that “in case of continuation of the attacks, we will expand our demonstrations all over the country. We are ready to go to Kunar and defend our country against Pakistan.”
The Aug 30 demonstrations were the second in a week against the rocket attacks on the frontier. On Aug 27, hundreds of peoplemarched in protest in Kunar against the disruption of normal life in the province for the past several months.
Wasefullah Wasifi, the spokesman of the Kunar governor,said, “The attacks were condemned by everyone but the president has advised them to wait for a second presidential order.”
Popular upsurge
Wefaq Milihas urged people to volunteer to defend the country. Party leader Bismillah Shir said the “annoying silence of the government (has) finallyended the patience of the people.”
Shirin Aqa, a volunteer told Killid in an interview, that”there is no government, … no national or military interest. We were a united nation but now we are not. No one is there to defend the country loyally.” He said Wefaq Mili’s appeal has been “welcomed by people”. “I am sure that this (appeal) can be changed into a national order and lead to the bright future of our country. If the readiness of the people continues in this manner we would be very soon seeing an uprising.”
Bismillah Shir has accused the government of “dragging us towards annihilation”. He said the party has written to the government but there has been no response. “Even as we suffer losses daily the authorities are sitting in their palaces and saying they want to take up the issue through diplomatic channels. The diplomacy is dragging us towards annihilation. We ask them (government) only to provide the groundwork then we can stand beside the security forces and defend our country.”
Political and military experts commenting on the demonstrations agree that if these were countrywide the impact would be very fruitful. Retired General Ameenullah Amarkhail, former commander of first zone border police, observed: “There is no other way but for people to unite against the enemies of Afghanistan. This a national issue. If the opposition has a problem it should speak up. All should be united and defend the country.”
The Kunar governor’s spokesman Wasefullah Wasifi said security forces should take the assistance of locals. “The borders are all mountainous. The people are more familiar with the terrain than the national army and national police.”
Enlist locals
Former member of parliament and political expert, Meer Ahmad Joyenda, urged the government to “welcome the people’s uprising”. He said, “When the government cannot do anything it should welcome the uprisings of people in Kunar and other parts of the country, and appeal for help. The government should ask the people what they want. What should be the reaction againstPakistan? I am sure 99 percent would stand up against Pakistan.”
According to Joyenda, the Afghan government should use “all the available political tools” to solve the problem. “What is the use of the strategic treaties that Afghanistan has signed with the US, India, Britain, Italy and other countries? Now is the time to tell these countries that you have signed the treaties, why you don’t press Pakistan.”
Joyenda also accused the Afghan government of not standing up to Pakistan. “The influence of Pakistan is so vast in the presidential palace that they cannot take a united decision how to deal with this problem. … The parliament also cannot take serious action to make the government take action.”
The government has been clinging to diplomacy as a solution. Siamak Herawi, deputy spokesman of the president, said negotiations are going on with Pakistan and international forces in Afghanistan. “Until Afghanistan is sure that Pakistan is not willing to resolve the issue through diplomatic efforts, Afghanistan will not complain to the UN Security Council or other international arbiter.”
