Struggling Girl, famously known as “The vulture and the little girl” was one among many photographs, which left profound and humongous impacts on many. The photograph was taken in Sudan by South African photojournalist Kevin Carter. It was showing an ill- fated little girl: unable to move, besides her, a vulture was waiting to eat her up after her death, mostly her skin as flesh was not on menu because of fierce and constant hunger she endured in then famine-hit Sudan.
Purpose of mentioning this heart shattering story is not just to sentimentalize on one’s jovial routine but to assert that the vulture and the kid, and same Kevin Carter is still alive in this world. It has been 10 months since Americans left Afghanistan and Afghans not just on the mercy of brutal, ruthless and self-aggrandized force: Talibans, but also on harsh natural disasters and hunger. Afghans during past four decades were in warlike situations and fall of Kabul in August last year was never a silver lining around a dark cloud of fear and hopelessness. But situation rapidly can lead to point of inflexion: a point beyond which recovery is irreversible.
Although world: perceiving realities on ground: now dealing with Taliban as Afghanistan’s de facto rulers. But no move is in embryonic stage to legitimize the government of Taliban. World is cautious, precisely and briefly observing Taliban’s behavior and actions. But this painstaking observance, deteriorating already fragile socio- economic society of troubled people of Afghanistan.
This policy of remaining adamant, avoiding relation and keeping Taliban at arm length is not unreasonable. Western powers cannot afford to incentivize Taliban: their stringent policies particularly towards women, are much hated and criticized among western public, consequently not allowing governments in power, to take bold step to strengthen Taliban. On the other hand, ostracizing Taliban can lead to embolden terrorist group to contain and counter Taliban hegemony: heading towards a history-worst humanitarian disaster in the country of 39 million people: already living in grim situation of joblessness, hunger and no escape in the land lock country.
Among regional powers: Russia and Iran are also now reluctant in dealing with Taliban, strangely, these two powers were supporters of formers during Ashraf Ghani much stable tenure. Perhaps, war-lords and militancy best suit rentier states: allowing productive outcomes for hiring proxies and trade of ammunition. Being more vulnerable among all regional actors Pakistan and Tajikistan have grave security concerns over volatile and rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan. Total economic collapse, civil war or potential anti-Taliban insurgent groups and inability of Taliban to govern the almost ungovernable Afghanistan only deepens uneasiness of regional actors.
Emergence of militant Islamic State’s Khorasan and their recent attacks on public places including capital Kabul clearly shows that giving an unconcerned and apathetic shrug of shoulders to the situation in Afghanistan is no longer and was never an option. With frozen assists, closed borders for all type of movement and no economic assistance from world inflict much more harm to commoners in Afghanistan particularly women and children than the targeted enemy: Taliban. Recent earth quake claiming more than thousand lives not only have shaken the mountains of Afghanistan but have also jolted all regional and international actors who do still not perceive this precarious situation. Unavailability of medicine and food, joblessness and no relief in sight have further increased violence against the susceptible minorities and if this situation persists, this violence can reach well beyond border of the state.
Future of 39 million Afghans hangs by a thread. To avert this looming human made tragedy against humans, all players have to reconsider the approach. First thing at first, Taliban must reassess the stringent, rigid and strangulation restrictions imposed on public significantly compromising civic rights of people specially women in public and political life. These constraints only deters west from providing human assistance to the war-torn country.
Foremost concern of regional actors should be the well-being of commoners Afghans instead of marginalizing and relegating each other’s sphere of influence. Prosperous, independent and sovereign Afghanistan is in the interest of the region and can provide opportunities of trade in central Asia, and central Asian countries a way to warm waters of Arabian Sea.
People of Afghanistan deserve better. World have to assist millions of Afghans not just because militant outfits can potentially again pose threat to the peace of world but also to mitigate sufferings of unfortunate people. Recent earth quake left Afghans in worst situation of their life. World cannot allow humiliation of humanity on this colossal level. People in Afghanistan are like people in Ukraine: belonging to the same species of human: Homo sapiens. They also have not chosen war but it was forced on them. Afghanistan is rip volcano, about to erupt, and the jolt of this eruption will inevitably be felt well beyond mountains of Tora Bora.
Finally, Kevin Carter: the photojournalist who took Sudanese girl’s photograph with a vulture, committed suicide on the very same year he received award for his masterpiece. On his death note wrote “I am hunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain, of starving wounded children”. It was the one Kevin Carter with one Sudanese girl and one vulture, let us save many in Afghanistan.
One thought on “Afghanistan Conundrum”
Western hypocrisy is on top it can’t be denied why are they lamenting for Ukraine whenever there are a lot of war torn countries in world like Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan. Unfortunately there are many vulture and kids everywhere in world