CAIRO – Like most Afghans, Akhtar Mohammed Shinwari can’t wait for the moment to see American troops leaving his Muslim country. “People hate the Americans from the bottom of their hearts,” Haji Akhtar told The Times on Friday, November 20.
Shinwari was shocked by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s statements in his inauguration speech that the American troops would hand over security over the next five years.
Karzai’s remarks immediately brought to the Afghan man’s memories the scenes of 19 people killed and 50 wounded in US attacks outside his Shinwar village in 2007.
“People don’t like their operations,” he said.
“They search houses without permission, detain people without trial.”
Shinwari is not alone.
“We still don’t know why they did it,” said Niaz Amin, who lost his older brother and a grandfather in American operations last year.
“When they came into the house I tried to speak to them in English but they shouted, ‘Don’t speak’,” the 20-year-old student from neighboring Rakhzi village recalled.
“The first time they came my brother ran out and he was wounded by an airstrike. They took him to the hospital but brought back his body.
“Eight days later my grandfather was shot when he went out of the mosque.”
The US invaded the central Asian Muslim country in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks to topple the ruling Taliban and ally Al-Qaeda.
Analysts have repeatedly warned that the indiscriminate killing of civilians is turning ordinary Afghans against US-led foreign troops and eroding fragile public support for the West-backed Karzai government.
Insecurity
Because of the US military presence, many Afghans see security as a far-fetched dream.
“They should just stay in their bases,” Shinwari said.
“More troops won’t bring peace. We need economic development, not soldiers.”
Fazil Hakim agrees, ridiculing US claims that the troops are seeking to maintain security.
“Wherever the troops are there’s instability,” said the 36-year-old.
“They bring problems with them.”
As the US troops move along the Afghani villages, feelings of insecurity are getting severer.
“When the Americans drive along the roads they don’t let anyone overtake them,” Shinwari said.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re transporting a dead body or a sick woman to hospital.
“Even if they get a puncture or break down, if it takes one hour or two days, they don’t let anybody overtake them.”
Echoing similar concerns, analysts agree that the foreign military presence is hindering the Afghan government itself.
“There are many disadvantages to having foreign troops on the front line,” said Gerard Russell, a former British political attaché in Kabul.
“It’s holding the Afghans back and saving them from the need to solve their problems themselves.
“Until the Government realizes this is a fight for its own survival it won’t make the tough decisions, and they won’t realize that as long as we the international community are in the way.”
Source: IslamOnline
Shinwari was shocked by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s statements in his inauguration speech that the American troops would hand over security over the next five years.
Karzai’s remarks immediately brought to the Afghan man’s memories the scenes of 19 people killed and 50 wounded in US attacks outside his Shinwar village in 2007.
“People don’t like their operations,” he said.
“They search houses without permission, detain people without trial.”
Shinwari is not alone.
“We still don’t know why they did it,” said Niaz Amin, who lost his older brother and a grandfather in American operations last year.
“When they came into the house I tried to speak to them in English but they shouted, ‘Don’t speak’,” the 20-year-old student from neighboring Rakhzi village recalled.
“The first time they came my brother ran out and he was wounded by an airstrike. They took him to the hospital but brought back his body.
“Eight days later my grandfather was shot when he went out of the mosque.”
The US invaded the central Asian Muslim country in 2001 following the 9/11 attacks to topple the ruling Taliban and ally Al-Qaeda.
Analysts have repeatedly warned that the indiscriminate killing of civilians is turning ordinary Afghans against US-led foreign troops and eroding fragile public support for the West-backed Karzai government.
Insecurity
Because of the US military presence, many Afghans see security as a far-fetched dream.
“They should just stay in their bases,” Shinwari said.
“More troops won’t bring peace. We need economic development, not soldiers.”
Fazil Hakim agrees, ridiculing US claims that the troops are seeking to maintain security.
“Wherever the troops are there’s instability,” said the 36-year-old.
“They bring problems with them.”
As the US troops move along the Afghani villages, feelings of insecurity are getting severer.
“When the Americans drive along the roads they don’t let anyone overtake them,” Shinwari said.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re transporting a dead body or a sick woman to hospital.
“Even if they get a puncture or break down, if it takes one hour or two days, they don’t let anybody overtake them.”
Echoing similar concerns, analysts agree that the foreign military presence is hindering the Afghan government itself.
“There are many disadvantages to having foreign troops on the front line,” said Gerard Russell, a former British political attaché in Kabul.
“It’s holding the Afghans back and saving them from the need to solve their problems themselves.
“Until the Government realizes this is a fight for its own survival it won’t make the tough decisions, and they won’t realize that as long as we the international community are in the way.”
Source: IslamOnline
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