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| Afghanistan |
| Life improving in Bamiyan province |
| 2003-07-16 |
| Source: The Economist "THE province of Bamiyan is a rare good-news story for Afghanistan. Few villages on this 2,500 metre (8,000 feet) -high plateau in central Afghanistan have turned to poppy production. Security is not a big issue here. American special forces have disarmed meddlesome villagers. Tensions between the newly arrived Afghan National Army and the local Hezb-e-Wahdat militia have amounted to little more than name calling, fist fights, and a few smashed windows. The majority HazarasâShias believed to be descended from the armies of Genghis Khanâare loyal to Kabul. For the first time in their history they have a voice in the national political process. Their hero, Karim Khalili, is vice-president. The Tajik minority driven out by the Hazaras in the 1990s is slowly returning under the UNâs auspices. Disputes between Tajiks and Hazaras over trees and water rights are now being settled amicably, despite the warnings of Tajik commanders who told their kin not to go back home. Village elders from both communities say everyone feels safer since the Afghan National Army and a small but visible American military reconstruction team moved into Bamiyan town. Foreign aid workers find the work ethic of the locals refreshing. âYou give a little and they build a lot,â says one admiringly. And indeed, in village after village, the traditional adobe homes razed by the retreating Taliban have been rebuilt, land is coming back under the hoe, and new schools are attended, in some places, by girls as well as boys." Key points 1. This is west of metro Kabul, and represents an expansion of central authority to a large area adjacent to, but outside of the provinces around Kabul that Karzai has controlled for months. 2. Afghan National Forces taking the lead role in establishing central authority, not Americans or Tajik militias. This is the model - build up authority in a small area, use revenues from their to build the army, then use the army to extend the area of central authority, and get the warlords to be more cooperative with the central govt. If it worked for Philip Augustus in 13th c France, why shouldnt it work for Karzai? 3. This area flanks Dostum's turf on the south. Begins to geographically isolate warlords. |
| Posted by:liberalhawk |
| #1 liberal hawk, ummm... the hazara case is a special one. They think very differently than just about everyone else in afghanistan. I spent some time in bamian and I have nothing but the utmost respect for those people. They are persistant, dedicated, loyal, and most importantly they show a willingness to learn and adapt. That more than anything else is what sets them apart from their sunni counterparts in the east. I could go on at length about the differences in Hazara thinking versus tajik, uzbek, or pashtun, but that would not do any good here. I can say that from the day that karzai was named, the hazara were behind him, not because they were represented in the government by khalili, but because as the most oppressed minority in the country, they are willing to follow anyone who is moving forward. I met some ANA back from kabul on leave (yes, we gave them leave) and they were immensly (sp) proud about being soldiers for the national army. It reminded me a lot of how I felt when I was done with basic training. That might be the source of the friction, egos. as for Dostums turf... well dostum is a business man more than a warlord, but for him being a genereal was just a means to an end. Pay more attention to Atta as far as causing trouble is concerned. The issue of where Hazarajat borders is null since bamian and the surrounding area is smack in the middle of the hindu kush mountains. and although it's not a far distance to travel when you look at the map. I can personally attest that it's all straight up. That's one of the reasons the Hazara managed to survive so long. Once you occupy bamian, you have the advantage of being able to launch ambushes at will throughout the mountains. the place is just one big kill zone. -DS "the horns hold up the halo". |
| Posted by: DeviantSaint 2003-7-16 12:02:11 PM |