Statement 2
TIME TO RECOGNIZE AFGHANISTAN'S LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT
I - Background
The government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) exists and succeeds in Afghanistan because of what came before them. They are the clearest expression of the will of fiercely independent people who never bow to any tyranny. Afghans of all ethnic backgrounds chose their path to peace. It is now up to the world to listen to them and work with them to rebuild their country.
From 1978 to 1992, during the Moscow backed regimes in Kabul, 75% of Afghan homes, fields, irrigation systems, orchards, forests, roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and mosques were pounded into dust. In addition to the 1.5 million people killed during the Russian occupation, from 1992 to up to the summer 1996, when Kabul became Massoud's fiefdom, in the capital alone 60,000 Afghans were killed in factional fighting. Most of the structures in their lives were turned to rubble. At 5 to 6 million, Afghans became the largest refugee population the world had ever seen. At the height of the Cold War and the factional choas that followed, terror did reign supreme in Afghanistan.
For over twenty years, national institutions and symbols from the flag on down were manipulated or lost for the worst of reasons. Ethno-linguistic, sectarian, regional, essentially any difference imaginable was sharpened through all available means and especially the media. The advocates of Russia's Plan B, divide and rule, included Iran, European and Asian nations competing with U.S. economic interests.
They were silent while Afghans suffered the cruel reign of factional chaos because it served their needs. They ignored the ethnically motivated genocide and rapes. They said nothing. There were no human rights monitors, no reporting, and no protests. The Feminist Majority did not know Afghanistan existed much less condemn the restrictions on women in the pre-Taleban era. The Emirate mandated hijab all women had to wear, as they do in Iran, went unnoticed. The women who refused the party line were chased out or killed. They had no international advocates. Rampant looting, warlordism, druglords and lawlessness were willfully ignored because it suited a purpose. It was tearing Afghanistan apart.
In the Summer of 1996, the last of Afghanistan's Moscow backed regimes fled the capital and the IEA took over the seat of government. They brought a wartorn fabric together. Their society withstood twenty years of onslaught from friend and foe and achieved the improbable. Most of the country is now peaceful, disarmed, together and surviving more austere conditions than widely appreciated. Yet, these past two years, more Afghans enjoyed a good harvest and more land was reclaimed than any other since the Russian invasion. The Afghan currency has increased in value and trade routes going to Central Asia begin to flourish.
The IEA did not have to fight their way to gain control of the country against the common people. Their greatest achievement has been to give the minority populations the kind of representation they lacked under the warlords. The warlords claimed to be representative of the minorities, but all they did was fan the flames of ethnic factionalism to serve their proxy backers. The IEA's ethnic homogeny is convenient myth. The ethnic minorities are represented in the central cabinet, included in all of the ministries and serves as governors of a number of provinces. Representatives of the Hazara, Tajik, Uzbek, Turkmen, and other ethnic and linguistic groups take part in all aspects of governance. The government implements a traditional style of Afghan self-rule in the provinces. There is no way the IEA could have succeed in bringing the country together if it was not sensitive to ethnic inclusion.
II- The U.N. Should Take into Account the Present Realities in Afghanistan
The United Nations, based on its charter, should deal with the Afghan issue fairly. The United Nations member states should take into account the new realities and make an objective judgement toward the Afghanistan's representation.
The government of Afghanistan administers over 95 percent of the country, controls all the major points of entry, secures the borders with Iran, Turkmenistman, Uzbekistan and Pakistan completely. Only a fraction of the border shared with Tajikistan remains under opposition. The IEA has no military bases outside the country's borders. The opposition's warlords do use Kulyab in Tajikistan as their main military supply base. On September 29, 1998, an Antanov 22 belonging to the opposition landed in Kabul International Airport. The pilot and his crew pledged allegiance to the IEA.
They reported that their cargo was replete with ammunition made by Iran and Russia. It included anti-personnel mines. It was loaded at an airbase in Kulyab, Tajikistan, and destined for Bagram airport in Afghanistan. The pilot and crew added, that just using this one plane, they had made more than 35 flights from Kulyab to Bagram airport. In each of those flights they transported munitions.
They airmen also added that after the defeat of the so-called northern alliance, 80 prisoners loyal to the IEA were initially transferred to Kulyab, and shortly after that flown to Mashad, in Iran. Exposure of these serious facts is clear proof of the intense degree of interference by foreigners in the affairs of Afghanistan. This exposure lifts the veil from Iran, Russia and Tajikistan's interference in our nation.
In Kabul today, there is a central civil administration based on Islamic and traditional Afghan consensus systems, accountable to the people. Recently, the counsel of over two thousand representatives from all over Afghanistan was sought in deciding a just approach to tensions with Iran.
The I.E.A an affective government.
There is a justice system that institutes the rule of law according to Islam, accepted by the people. A comprehensive judicial system based on Sharia protects private property rights and all other individual rights. Every citizen of Afghanistan is entitled to defense of their rights through the proper legal channels.
There are 19 functioning ministries in the capital, and a President. There is a Supreme Council which includes representatives from all the provinces. Most important of all, with everyday that passes there is growing support from people throughout Afghanistan, even in the few remaining areas ruled by opposition warlords. These past two years, UNHCR records show that refugees have returned to Afghanistan in record numbers.
United Nations aid workers themseleves admitted in several occasions that they have seen great improvement in the central government's effectiveness through negotiations, decision-making, and implementation of those decisions. For example, after they signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the U.N., the government disseminated the memorandum to all the provicial centers and other ministries to be adhered to. U.N. workers speak of better administration despite the complete lack of resources.
The IEA recognized that Afghanistan required security along its borders to cut off access to Iran, Russia and other states that would back proxy warlords. Their mandate is national unity based on the rule of law and a civil society. Peace threatens the interests of countries intent on investing in gas pipeline going through Iran. These countries layed their bets on having civil war go on in Afghanistan in order to maintain and extend their control over the natural resources in the region. They failed.
The very proud and independent people of Afghanistan achieved alone what the world owed this country when the Soviet Union broke apart. Today, most of Afghanistan is disarmed, peaceful, secure, people try to lead productive lives, but the efforts to isolate the Afghanistan's legitimate government hurts. Not recognizing the government is more cruel and unjust punishment heaped upon the long suffering people of Afghanistan. It remains for the rest of the world to see it, to begin to work with the legitimate Afghan government, and to bring Afghanistan into the community of nations. Anybody with an iota of experience or knowledge of Afghans knows you get much more out off us through cooperation than by pushing us around. There is a well known Afghan proverb that states, 'An Afghan will go to hell with you if you are kind, but by force you could even not make him go to heaven.'
III - The IEA Seeks to Establish Fair and Friendly Relations With All Countries
Afghanistan's strategic position in the region and the world has always placed it in between a rock and a hard place. The only position that any government of Afghanistan can take in order to maintain a long and lasting peace is one of mutual respect and non-interference with its neighbors. The IEA seeks to establish friendly relations with all our neighbors and requires the cooperation and assistance of the developed nations to help reconstruct the country. It may serve the strategic goals of Russia and Iran to create fear and misunderstandings about the nature of realities in Afghanistan, but it would not serve the future of the region nor the international community well to believe them.
The current trend in Afghanistan, a just Islamic government that has achieved acceptance across ethno-linguistic and sectarian lines, stems from the fact that all the Afghan people are tired of war. They want one united and strong nation with an accountable government that serves their needs. This current trend in Afghanistan sets a good example within a region so potentially divided along ethnic and sectarian lines. It demonstrates that countries need not tear apart for hateful reasons whether based on religion or ethnicity. It would be a shame if the world community through unfounded fears were to aid in reversing this trend. It took the Afghan people four years to withdraw themselves from the plague of ethnic and religious factionalism and so called Islamic state what was used as political toos for their personal interest rather than faith and morality. It would serve no good purpose to try to stymie this great achievement and would further risk ongoing conflict in the region.
The IEA is completely prepared to begin working with all neighboring countries, despite their continued interference. We have sought to meet on a bilateral basis with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to assure them that we have no hegemonistic or any intention of causing them trouble. These two countries ought to take note of our relations with Turkmenistan which have been fair and friendly for the past two years. Turkmenistan permits trade and has regular relations with our government. We cooperate on border control issues on a basis of trust. Even though there is ample evidence that they back our opposition, we seek the same with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan but have been rebuffed by them repeatedly, The United Nations, in seeking a long and lasting peace for Afghanistan, should not ignore the realty of this issue. The international community should pressure these countries in establishing peaceful relations with the IEA and follow the example of Turkmenistan.
The U.N. to halt the interferance in Afghanistan:
the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation are the two countries, along with some European and Asian nations, that see profit in divisive policies. They need also to be convinced to stop interfering in Afghanistan's affairs. As mentioned previously, both Iran and Russia are intensely engaged in backing the one remaining opposition stronghold. The IEA despite these realities does not wish to have bad relations with either one of these nations. In the case of Iran, we have urged the United Nations to setup a bilateral dialogue that will allow a clear exchange of views and build the foundation for future good relations. The IEA seeks the same with the Russian Federation. Both these countries are being irresponsible in trying to turn the clock back in Afghanistan by promoting divisive military and political policies. They will not curb these efforts, however clear it is from the current situation in Afghanistan that they failed to tear the country apart, unless the international community pressures them to seek fair and friendly relations with the IEA.
The international community and our neighboring states should accept that it is not their place to determine the nature and composition of our government. These countries should not be allowed to use their role in our country to force the rule of their proxy warlords. Our government is based on the rule of law and a civil society. Just representation of the people in Afghanistan is what we seek to establish on permanent basis, not the formula of ethnic factionalism, which seems to be the only system that would satisfy both Iran and Russia's intentions in Afghanistan.
Again, we suggest the United Nations member states take a long and hard look at what we have achieved in bringing the country together, our call for fair and friendly relations with all our neighbors in the face of some of their persistent warmongering, and our need to establish peaceful relations as opposed to their need to tear Afghanistan into pieces. In accordance with the United Nations charter, the world community should act in way that brings peace to the region and not the prospect of unending bloodshed. The United Nations has a choice of unwittingly promoting ethnic factionalism or with better consideration paving the path for a long and lasting peace by encouraging our neighboring countries to trust the forgiving hand of friendship we are extending to them.
The IEA needs to attract foreign development and assistance in order to pull the country out of the devastated state after twenty years of war. The international community owes Afghanistan a chance at such development. It is confounding to the common Afghan citizen, that when their country has finally established sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, the world chooses to turn away from them. The Afghan people and the government they have empowered want only fair and friendly relations with all nations. It is our hope that in the future more foreign investment will come to Afghanistan to help give our people a productive future. The $240 million deal signed with Telephone Systems International for the installation and ongoing operation of a new telecommunications system for the country was a breakthrough. The IEA would like the world community to facilitate rather than get in the way of much needed development in the country. The IEA wants recognition based on the international laws that govern relations between nations.
IV - Safeguarding Human Rights
The IEA respects international norms and principles of human rights. Our mandate has been to restore the individual rights to each and every citizen of Afghanistan. Our capacity to demonstrate this fact to the people of Afghanistan is the reason we have succeeded in establishing the rule of law in over 95% of the country. Admittedly this is not the impression that is common in the world community. Their impression is based more on the propaganda that our opposition spreads than the realities.
Take first of all the issue of Prisioners of War. We have treated the POW's in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. In addition, we have released large numbers of them while the opposition has executed over 4,000 of the POW's they have captured. The IEA has allowed the ICRC access to POW's. We provide POW's with food, clothing, education facilities and money as best possible. Indeed, the POW's released by the IEA have returned to their areas and turned out to be our best advocates.
The issue that most misunderstood in our position on the role of women in Afghan society. Afghan women are the crucible of Afghan culture. As such they were victimized by the communist if they did not respond well to indoctrination. Then, in a second wave of assault upon the role of Afghan women, they were victimized by the factional leaders. Ethnically motivated rapes and indoctrination to accept a corrupted form of Islam that permitted hate and the murder of innocent people. These activities were most apparent in Kabul where 80% of the civil service were women who were used by communist for their personal amusement and party notorious interest .
The communist regime were employing about 150,000 people administered nothing but a few square miles within the capital. The government was a huge patronage system for empowering and supporting the communist network. When the ousted President Rabanni and his warlord Massoud took over, he did not changethe situation but made it worse. He mandated all women wear the uniform hijab imported from Iran and other Islamic countries and ignoring long Afghan tradition. In their case if women did not adhere to the edicts the were violated and Tortured. This did not create a more Islamic soceity but one in which replaced the communist party privileges and patronage system only on the surface.
In Afghanistan’s history and culture the position of women is one of dignity and honor. Women as the crucible of our culture pass one the values that have kept the people of this nation unconquered by any tyranny. In the past, King Amanullah, who wanted to westernize the role of Afghan women was chased out of the country for that very reason. The war against the Soviet invasion started in earnest over the issue of women as well. After the Russian backed coup in 1978, Russian advisors in Herat forced Afghan women to attend literacy courses that included indoctrination. The women protested to Herat’s elders and religious scholars. They challenged the men to defend the dignity and honor of Afghan women. The people of Herat rose. They killed the Russian advisors. The Russian sent planes to bomb Herat. That day, thirty five thousand people in Herat lost their lives. That night beginning in Herat, and spontaneous spreading across the country the women of Afghanistan went on the rooftops and in the name of God called their nation to resist.
The ousted Rabanni government and the warlords of the so called northern alliance failed because they did not appreciate the value of honoring Afghan women as well. This is not to say that they cannot be educated and participate fully and equally in Afghan political, social and economic life.
According to a survey done by the Swedish Committee last year, more that 9000 girls were enrolled in provincial elementary schools. The teachers were women. Presently women are working as doctors, medical administrators, nurses, employees of aid projects addressing women health and educations issues.
About female education and work the IEA is prepared to open schools for girls, universities for women in the frame work of Islamic teaching and Afghan tradition and in fact do permit women to work and teach. here are also women employed in various ministries. They are working within the framework of our culture and religion. In the provinces conditions have improved for their work.
The very concerns that consistently scream against our alleged policies on women have been responsible from cutting off the very assistance we require to move ahead on this issue. Again consider the consequences of all this. The IEA continues not have access to the resources to move ahead on women's education on a larger scale than gets damned for not doing so.
As human rights have been grossly violated by our opposition and the communist government that preceded it, while they were improved and protected during the IEA government. The IEA is completely ready to cooperate with the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and any other human rights monitors of unbiased respectable organization to investigate years of violations. Like any other nation coming out of the throes of long-term conflict, the world owes Afghanistan assistance in addressing these issues comprehesively. Half-hearted efforts, poor information gathering and a lack of long-term commitment is the norm on human rights issues in Afghanistan. Instead of helping putting an end to human rights violations these unfinished efforts just perpetrate more hatred and misunderstanding. The IEA in short requires and requests the United Nations to setup a long-term human rights effort to help heal the wounds of war. There are mass graves in Mazar-i-Sharif that have over 4,000 bodies, other that have yet to be discovered from the communist era. There are also allegations that Iran and the so called northern alliance have lodged against our government which we deny. The IEA is not only ready for investigation but requests that the world community pressure the United Nations to begin this process in earnest and with more expertise and credibility than has been applied thus far.
Drastic measures have been taken to improve women condition:
As the IEA policy is to improve the women conditions in Afghan society gradually , some drastic measures have been taken in this regards Recently, two significant set of decisions were made by the IEA that indicate where we are heading on the issue of women in Afghanistan.
First, last month, the Amir-ul-Momeneen, Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid passed two edicts which for the first time in Afghanistan's history outlaws two of the most common of tribal customs that go against the equality Islam bestows upon women. The edicts outlaw the custom of forced marriage of a widow by the in-laws to another relative, and the other edict outlaws women used as commodities to settle disputes between families. These two customs are centuries old and have never been challenged by any Afghan government to the present day.
The other important steps have been taken by the IEA is the improvement in the financial situation of Afghan women that widows and other unfortunate women are provided permanent support from religious taxes (zakat and usures)
Those women who were employed with the previous government without any need for their work, were told by the IEA to stay home so they can protect their honor and dignity with full paid salary. They are required once amonth to go to the their relvent office for signing their attandance book.
Here is the question that you should consider toward the predicament of women in Afghan society. Can the world community contribute more to their advancement by working with a government that honors and protects all Afghan women, or can the world community do more for Afghan women by isolating the government that represents them? About female education and work the IEA is prepared to open schools for girls, universities for women in the frame work of Islamic teaching and Afghan tradition and in fact do permit women to work and teach. here are also women employed in various ministries. They are working within the framework of our culture and religion. In the provinces conditions have improved for their work.
The very concerns that consistently scream against our alleged policies on women have been responsible from cutting off the very assistance we require to move ahead on this issue. Again consider the consequences of all this. The IEA continues not have access to the resources to move ahead on women's education on a larger scale than gets damned for not doing so.
Human rights have been grossly violated by our opposition and the communist government that preceded it. The IEA is completely ready to cooperate with the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and any other human rights monitors of unbiased respectable organization to investigate years of violations. Like any other nation coming out of the throes of long-term conflict, the world owes Afghanistan assistance in addressing these issues comprehesively. Half-hearted efforts, poor information gathering and a lack of long-term commitment is the norm on human rights issues in Afghanistan. Instead of helping putting an end to human rights violations these unfinished efforts just perpetrate more hatred and misunderstand. The IEA in short requires and requests the United Nations to setup a long-term human rights effort to help heal the wounds of war. There are mass graves in Mazar-i-Sharif that have over 4,000 bodies, other that have yet to be discovered from the communist era. There are also allegations that Iran and the so called northern alliance have lodged against our government which we deny. The IEA is not only ready for investigation but requests that the world community pressure the United Nations to begin this process in earnest and with more expertise and credibility than has been applied thus far.
V - Controlling Narcotics
On October 6, 1998, the world heard from Amir-ul-Momeneen, Mullah Mohammad Omar himself "There is no doubt if the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not recognized, the people and the government both, engaged in war for the past twenty years will face economic hardship. On the other hand, if the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is recognized, it will put an end to the poppy cultivation immediately. It is now just about time for planting. If the world is honest in what it is saying than we are ready for this decision. " that our capacity to eradicate opium cultivation depends on the cooperation the world community is willing to extend in overcoming the extreme economic hardships in Afghanistan.
The IEA has already taken many drastic measures to better control narcotics. The cultivation of hemp and cannabis has been completely ended, since it was grown on a small scale. The IEA is the first government in Afghanistan in over twenty years and one might argue before that with the capacity to do anything substantial toward eradicating poppy cultivation.
The production and consumtion of narcotics is completely against Islam and does great harm to Afghanistan as well. Therefore , it needs cooperative efforts. The problem of poppy cultivation is Afghanistan’s inheritance from decades of war. Every major power poured guns, money and influence into the war that tore our country apart. Is it fair that they now turn their back and leave us alone to deal with the consequences?
The IEA is in the unique position of having a strong enough national mandate to help eradicate poppy cultivation. Now is a good time for the world community help address the root cause of this cultivation, severe economic hardship and isolation.
VI - Addressing Terrorism
The leadership of the IEA, the recent Council of Ulema gathered in Kabul, and the great mass of our people have a deep and abiding belief that terrorism is the act of cowards, that killing of innocent civilians goes against Islam and is not acceptable by any standards. Prior to and in the past twenty years of Afghanistan's turbulent history, there has not been one case of international terrorism linked to an directly to an Afghan individual or group. Terrorism is not only against Islam, it is completely against the proud character and values of the Afghan people. It is a fact that foreigners engaged in Afghanistan's war of liberation chose a different path. In no way does IEA support or condone their action.
The IEA is ready to cooperate with any nation that has evidence that acts of terrorism were planned, organized or carried out from Afghanistan's soil. Even though most countries do not recognize the IEA, our government is prepared to receive any information that would bear proof that there has been terrorist activity carried out from Afghanistan by foreign groups or individuals. We are prepared to act according to Sharia against such barbaric acts in our courts of justice. Again this is an area that recognizing our government, although not in any way conditional on cooperation, would at least facilitate better communications and the capacity to better cooperate.
The people of Afghanistan have suffered great injustices at the hands of foreigners or through their support for corrupt forces in Afghanistan. The IEA's mandate is to put an end to this and alleviate Afghanistan's suffering. We recognize terrorism and its consequence against us as such a scourge and want assist the international community in addressing it.
VII - Conclusion Huamn rights violated by our opposition and the communist government that preceded it. The IEA is completely ready to cooperate with the United Nations, the International Court of Justice and any other human rights monitors of unbiased respectable organization to investigate years of violations. Like any other nation coming out of the throes of long-term conflict, the world owes Afghanistan assistance in addressing these issues comprehesively. Half-hearted efforts, poor information gathering and a lack of long-term commitment is the norm on human rights issues in Afghanistan. Instead of helping putting an end to human rights violations these unfinished efforts just perpetrate more hatred and misunderstand. The IEA in short requires and requests the United Nations to setup a long-term human rights effort to help heal the wounds of war. There are mass graves in Mazar-i-Sharif that have over 4,000 bodies, other that have yet to be discovered from the communist era. There are also allegations that Iran and the so called northern alliance have lodged against our government which we deny. The IEA is not only ready for investigation but requests that the world community pressure the United Nations to begin this process in earnest and with more expertise and credibility than has been applied thus far. The people of Afghanistan can ill afford rhetorical efforts to alliviate their hardships. The international community can ill-afford ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the region. After many years of struggle and unbelievable destruction in Afghanistan, the Afghan people from village to village and province to province worked hard and together over the last three years to pull their country together. The existence of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as one united nation is their testament the world that they no longer want war or imposition of foreign dogmas or foreign proxies.
The international community encouraged our struggle for freedom, then ignored the chaos that followed, and now chooses to believe lies rather than the truth in addressing Afghanistan. The time has come to give Afghanistan what the world owes it, a chance to build on what works well for Afghans. Recognition of the IEA may not serve those who invested in a divided weak Afghanistan, but are they right to so?
Recognition of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan has no ill consequences to any nation and will be great and good step for the fiercely independent people of Afghanistan. Much louder voices in the region with much greater influence on the world stage argue against our recognition. Our government stands before you with the pride, hope and goodwill of the world's most freedom loving and courageous people and ask that you not turn your back on us again.
