Former member of Afghanistan’s peace negotiation team Nader Nadery has called for the review of the war in Afghanistan and how the war had affected public aspiration for a better future.
In his testimony to the Afghan War Commission to examine roots of Afghanistan war Nadery said for two decades, Afghanistan’s political, social, and economic lives were closely tied to decisions made by the United States. The war and the partnership left an indelible mark on our country.
The tragedy of 9/11 brought to light the long-lasting pain of millions of Afghans who had been neglected for too long.
Afghans, the victims of Cold War rivalry and poor national leadership, found relief in the presence of US forces in their country in November 2001.
The end of the Taliban’s first rule and the subsequent support from the U.S. transformed millions of lives. However, the war also brought pain, despair, and lost opportunities.
He said the story of Afghan women reclaiming and expanding their rights, denied by the Taliban, was a highlight of that period.
The rapid integration of women’s rights and human rights into Afghanistan’s social, political, and legislative discourses is an encouraging lesson learned.
Advocates of a democratic system in Afghanistan found allies in the US and international partners.
Their tireless advocacy resulted in constitutional guarantees, including freedom of media and speech, and helped develop an active civil society.
Former chairman of the independent Civil Service Commission of Afghanistan Nader Nadery said the rapid expansion of public services, for example from fewer than 30,000 teachers to over 260,000 in 2021, with over 50% female representation, was a testament to institutional building.
By 2020, a vibrant, dynamic, and hopeful post-2001 generation, educated both in Afghanistan and abroad, began entering the workforce.
Equipped with knowledge and technology and aware of global happenings, they aspired to a better future for their country.
However, the war also brought significant pain. The quest for revenge post-9/11 and the counter-terrorism strategy that relaxed rules of engagement caused unnecessary suffering among Afghan civilians, especially in rural areas.
Homes and villages were destroyed, and many civilians lost their lives. The US and its allies, held to higher standards by Afghans, at times fell short in their conduct.
The strategy of arrests and indefinite detentions, often without due process, undermined the goals of establishing the rule of law and access to justice.
Misunderstandings, such as the case of a 68-year-old detained for a long time in Bagram because of a translator’s misinterpretation, highlight the profound consequences of rushed actions.
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