THE United States has said that the Nato forces can stay in Afghanistan only at the request of the Afghan government. It is appreciable that the White House has dispelled the impression that the US wants to stay permanently in the war-torn country.

…[T]he While House spokesperson has also clarified that any further stay of the US-led Nato forces would mean continued operations against Al Qaeda. …

Though the US government has apparently said that it does not want to stay in Afghanistan but it is yet to be ascertained as to how many soldiers will stay after the withdrawal of the allied forces from the country. The Nato forces have fought well against Al Qaeda and are still struggling for the purpose but in the prevailing situation the people of Afghanistan are feeling … uneasy.

The unending war has made the lives of the people extremely miserable because the war has caused widespread bloodshed from all sides. This war has directly affected the lives of people in Afghanistan and also Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Peace has become a [distant dream] for the people because bomb blasts, targeted attacks and acts of sabotage have become the order of the day.

This situation has led to unemployment, price hike, and uncertainty in the entire region. Owing to the frequent terrorist acts the investors have started leaving the region. In addition the war against terrorism has also caused an increase in incidents of kidnapping for ransom; members of the business community are openly receiving threats to pay huge [amounts of] extortion money or face the wrath of the terrorists.

The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan have equally suffered due to the war against terrorism and still have to bear the brunt unless a permanent solution is sought to all these issues in the region. There is no shortage of rich natural resources but everyone knows that development is impossible without the restoration of peace.

It is the duty of the international players and local leadership to extend cooperation to each other in the best interests of the region and its people [in order] to restore peace and initiate uplift schemes. The international community, particularly the donor agencies, should focus on development of the war-affected areas to enable the people to get education, healthcare facilities and start a new life.

All stakeholders should avoid personal … agendas and adopt policies on the basis of humanity and for the well-being of the downtrodden people, irrespective of regionalism, religion, race and creed. — (May 22)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.