One of the main topics on the agenda of the Intra-Afghan Negotiations is the nature of future government in Afghanistan. Judging by the statements of the Afghan government and the Taliban, it seems that they have conflicting ideas about what the future government is going to look like. In order to get a sense of how Afghan citizens think about this issue, we have asked our community on Twitter to share their views with us. Here are their answers.
An appeal to our followers was posted on Twitter last month. We requested our followers to tell us what they want from a future government in Afghanistan. We have received many responses for which we are very greatful. The responses that we have received can be roughly divided into two themes. The first theme is corruption and meritocracy and the second theme is Islamic governance.
مهرباني وکړئ ماته په یوه ټویټ کې د دې پوښتنو ځوابونه راکړئ. pic.twitter.com/Ci7JQiq8XD
— Sangar Paykhar | سنګر پیکار (@paykhar) August 8, 2020
Corruption
As part of an online survey conducted on Twitter, Sangar Paykhar reached out to users to gauge their sentiments regarding intra-Afghan negotiations. Ultimately, what form of government should the negotiations transpire in? Below are the responses from a wide range of users.
Ahmad Javid Shakib said that the future government must retake expropriated government land from the landgrabbers. “Pashtuns have suffered a lot in this war, specifically lagging behind their counterparts in educational fields. A diplomat’s research indicated that Pashtun participation in post secondary school exams was 10% below that of other ethnicities. This inequality must be redressed.” We have asked Shakib to share the research he has mentioned. Up until the publication of this article, however, no response has been forthcoming.
Nouman Katawazy said that in the future government, democracy has to be defended. “Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption have to be part of the government. They have to be taught as fundamental values.”
Angar Dotani emphasized the importance of exposing the track record of old strongmen in the current establishment. He strongly feels that these strongmen should be tried in court.
Ahmad F. Samin: “In a future system, responsibilities should be allocated only to those competent enough.”
Hikmat Jamal said that before any movement is made toward the establishment of a new government, previous abuses of human rights must be dealt with and addressed. “Transitional justice will prevent future problems.”
Shair Shah: “In a future system what is necessary is to give a fair due to those most entitled and impoverished, and for tails of the ISI and other foreign intelligence agencies to be cut from any government in Kabul.”
Amina Khan, Director at the Centre for Middle East & Africa at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, and a previous guest of the AfghanEye Podcast, stated that a future government in Afghanistan needs to be more inclusive and must accommodate the views of all Afghans.
Tareq Kakar: “A future system needs to have within it determination, justice and some common sense.”
Hidayat Hanifi Shinwaray: “A future system must be independent and free, whilst being wholly dedicated to the national interest.”
Pure Islamic governance
Abdul Wali said that we want a pure Islamic systhem within which Islamic Sharia is implemented in its totality.
Khaleqyar Ahmadzai: “For the arrival of a complete Islamic system, the leadership of sincere, determined and respected elders will serve as the solution for all problems.”
Muhammad Anwer said that God fearing and competent people must be represented in the next system.
Hamed Sayed: “In the fullest sense of the word, an Islamic system must be established, and solely qualified people should be given roles and duties.”
Zabihullah Halim said that the future system should have in mind social justice, a system under the umbrella of religion and inspired by the the fundamentals of Islam.
Shaheen: “A future system should be empowered to implement Sharia to the fullest extent, and secondly it must be in domestic and foreign affairs totally independent.”
An anonymous user, ‘Mazloom Millat’ (Oppressed Nation) said: “In a future system, there should be no place for those who take bribes. Government should be for Muslims, those who have stolen public funds should be tried and punished according to the law, and all Afghans should see themselves and their aspirations reflected in any future system.”
Dr. Said Shah: “The foundation of the current system is democracy, and Islamic values are only used superficially without being reflected in any honestly. The democracy of the infidels is exploited for the personal gains of a select few, the next system should be Islamic and Shar’i.”
Another anonymous user under the name Sabawoon said: “In any future system we need a government to be independent, firm in the defense of Islamic and national values, unfearful and just in its implementation of the law, firm in the face of foreign meddling in domestic affairs, executor of corrupt traitors, empty of any ethnonationalism, and clear of any corruption.”
We will be discussing the responses we have received in our next podcast. This page will be updated once the podcast is published.
The Qur’an: Source: Cezary Piwowarski, Wikimedia
