In February 2008 a CFSOT delegation visited Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The third stop was Afghanistan where the CFSOT team conducted field research in Jalalabad and Kabul. The CFSOT team spoke to a wide range of people, including old Mujahideen leaders, new Islamic revivalist leaders, government officials and civil society activists. This edition concludes the findings of the February research trip
AFGHANISTAN: THE WAY FORWARD
Too often the situation in Afghanistan is analysed through a geopolitical perspective, thus ignoring the plight of the Afghan people. The concluding article on CFSOT’s field research trip to Afghanistan looks at the deteriorating situation inside the country. Underpinning much of the socio-economic malaise is the deteriorating security environment. This is directly tied to a steady increase in the Western military presence in the country, which in turn reinforces a set of socio-political maladies, in particular the consolidation of a highly unpopular elite. The way forward in Afghanistan lies in lowering, not increasing, the Western military profile.
THE SHI’AS OF AFGHANISTAN: INTERVIEW WITH GRAND AYATOLLAH MOHAMMAD ASIF MOHSENI
In this interview Afghanistan’s leading Shi’a cleric Ayatollah Mohseni provides an overview of the religious, political and socio-economic circumstances of Shi’a Muslims in Afghanistan. He strikes an optimistic note, expressing relief that the sectarian conflict in occupied Iraq has so far not been reproduced in Afghanistan. But Ayatollah Mohseni warns against complacency and urges the Western coalition not to prolong their stay in Afghanistan.
THE RISE AND FALL OF GULBUDDIN HEKMATYAR: MOHAMMAD ZAMAN MUSAMMIL EXPLAINS THE LEGACY
Mohammad Zaman Muzammil is a former leading member of Hezb-e-Eslami (Islamic Party), which is led by the legendary Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. In this long and wide-ranging interview Muzammil explains the circumstances that led to his departure from Hezb-e-Eslami in the context of Afghanistan’s deep political crisis. Moreover, Muzammil provides unique insights into Hekmatyar’s personality and argues that he may yet make another dramatic comeback.
AFGHAN FOREIGN POLICY UNDER THE TALIBAN: INTERVIEW WITH WAHEED MOZHDAH
Waheed Mozhdah is a former Mujahid and a veteran civil servant at the Afghan foreign ministry. He is unique because he chose to stay in Kabul and serve his country under the Taliban. In this long and fascinating interview he provides insights into how the foreign ministry – and the rest of the country – were managed under Taliban rule. Mozhdah shatters many myths about Taliban’s foreign policy, in particular their strained relationship with Iran. According to Mozhdah Taliban efforts to befriend Iran were consistently foiled by Pakistani intelligence.
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