THIS is apropos of the article “Remember Afghanistan’s Women” (May 20). Let us be true, at least once, and heartily say: “American (and Nato) efforts in Afghanistan have not all been in vain”.

All Pakistanis, particularly those who keep criticising the US, should have a comparative look at the present condition and that of 10 years ago -- at least women have progressed there a lot.

Laura Bush has highlighted a very touchy but worthwhile aspect of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan. While the world is busy pondering over the Nato issue and terrorism, it is true that Afghan women deserve due attention.

Afghan women must remain of primary concern to all the decisions of Nato forces and international policies. Humanitarian organisations like Amnesty International ask for rapid withdrawal of Nato forces from Afghanistan. But could such organisations have attained so much feminist progress without the efforts of the US, in general, and Nato forces, in particular?

Some 10 years ago women suffered in Afghanistan owing to extremism exercised by the Taliban. They were beaten up, taken for granted and locked up inside their houses. No police or judicial body could lessen their sufferings. Even the humanitarian organisation there could not carry out the necessary measures.

If there are say 1,000 deaths of civilians each month in Afghanistan, there were much more when the Taliban were in authority, some estimates claim, though the Taliban would never let any official statistics be made. Hence silent sufferings of non-Muslims and non-Afghan, as well as of the whole womanhood.

The US has helped alleviate the social and economic position of Afghanistan. Had the US not pioneered in manipulating Afghanistan (particularly after 9/11), there would have been more massive destructions throughout the world. Nothing can be hundred per cent perfect. So looking objectively, these 10 years of international interference have, in fact, rigorously loosened the Taliban supremacy in Afghanistan. Even Osama bin Laden’s death is indirectly attributed to a weakened Afghan Taliban support -- as a result of American intervention.

S. KARAMAT BARLAAS Bagh, Azad Kashmir