Afghanistan: President
Gorbachev got it wrong
By M. Ashraf Haidari
February 11, 2010
Letter to New York Times Editor
In “Soviet Lessons from Afghanistan” (Op-Ed,
Feb. 5), President Mikhail Gorbachev makes a number of misassumptions about
Afghanistan today. Soviet experience has no applicability to the present Afghan
situation. While the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan were outright
rejected and resisted by the Afghan people throughout 1980s, Afghans
overwhelmingly welcomed the liberation of our country from the dark forces of
terrorism and extremism in 2001; recent polls indicate that more than 70% of
Afghans continue supporting international military and civilian presence in
Afghanistan. And, indeed, we can regain the lost ground by delivering on the
basic expectations of the Afghan people: protection from violent extremism, a
livelihood, and the rule of law.
Moreover, whereas Afghans daily demanded the withdrawal of Soviet forces,
Afghans, today, fear what might follow when and if international forces
prematurely abandon our country. A 100% of Afghans rejected the godless ideology
of Communism in 1980s and more than 90% of Afghans rejected extremism and narco-terrorism
in 1990s. But, today, every poll shows that more than 80% of Afghans demand and
support our new but developing democracy and the strengthening of the Afghan
state to deliver on the promise and many values of democracy. With this level of
continued popular support, we clearly have the upper hand to win the peace in
Afghanistan. But I agree with President Gorbachev that the consolidation of
peace and democracy in Afghanistan is almost impossible unless key international
players stay the course and our neighbors impartially, for the sake of their own
national security interests, commit to success in Afghanistan.
M. Ashraf Haidari is the political counselor of the Embassy of Afghanistan in
Washington DC.
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