Afghanistan, a remote, mountainous,
tribally-based society, has been the object of rival imperial
ambitions since antiquity. In the nineteenth century, its
strategic location placed it at the center of the conflict between
the Russian and British empires. The destructive civil war of
recent times began in the1970s with the overthrow
of the monarchy, which eventually set the stage for a communist coup and
armed Soviet intervention in its support.
For nearly a decade, the conflict pitted Islamic rebels, backed
by the West, against the Soviet forces and their local allies. Osama bin
Laden served in the leadership of Mektab al-Khadimat, which was funded,
armed and supervised by the CIA to recruit and train fighters from
around the Arab world to fight against the Soviets. The rebels
eventually forced a Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The Islamic groups, never
unified, then split into several camps and fought among themselves for
power. The Taliban, supported by
Pakistan
, won control of the capital,
Kabul
, and most of the country by 1996 and installed a fundamentalist
regime known for its severe restrictions on women.
However, their government was not recognized internationally and
war raged on.
Following the World Trade
Center/Pentagon terrorist attacks in 2001, the Afghan crisis took a new
turn as the United Statesand its allies launched a military campaign to overthrow the Taliban,
accused of harboring and supporting bin Laden and his al-Qaeda
organization who masterminded the attacks. With the involvement and
assistance of the United Nations, a new leadership and governmental
institutions were put in place and many refugees were able to return.
The central government, however, remains weak and in need of
international help, and the country lacks stability as military strikes
to root out resurgent Taliban and al-Qaeda forces continue and warlords
dominate large areas.
For the past 30 years, older persons
in Afghanistan have endured foreign invasion and occupation, civil war,
displacement, economic and social destruction, famine, and human rights
violations. Their tragic experience calls for urgent action by the
international community to identify and meet their needs as an integral
part of the reconstruction of Afghan society.
Afghanistan: Poverty Haunts Afghan Security Quest (February 23, 2006)
As international donors meet in London to discuss efforts to rebuild Afghanistan, the director of the UN World Food Program in Afghanistan, Charles Vincent, explains why the talks are vital for ordinary Afghans. This article tells the story of a Bibi, an Afghan widow, who has lost one by one all the members of her family. She had no income, no hope and was one of the hundreds widows in Afghanistan who barely survive. The limited perception of the reality in Afghanistan makes it difficult to realize Afghanistan is the poorest country in the world.
Pakistan:Tribesmen Agree To Cooperate With Government (September 16, 2004)
In some areas of the world, older men have significant community leadership and local power. This report about elder tribal leaders from Pakistan says that the elders pledged cooperation in efforts to "kick out" foreigners by using local decision making processes based on ulemas and the jirga. A representative Mehsud tribal jirga of South Waziristan, comprising more than 300 elders and ulemas held a detailed meeting with the NWFP Governor Lt. Gen.(R) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah discussing the issue. The tribal elders including Inayat Khan Mehsud, Maulana Hisamuddin, Karam,at Khan, Col(R) Yaqub Mehsud in their speeches underlined the necessity of consultation with the ulemas in order to reach a collective peaceful settlement.
Afghanistan: 90 Percent of Afghan Electorate Registered for October Vote (August
2, 2004)
Nine out of 10 eligible Afghans have already signed up for forthcoming landmark October elections. Women, elderly and ethnic minorities are strongly represented among those registered for the first-ever direct vote for president. The elderly Afghans who witnessed enough chaos and bloodshed in the past, are now more hopeful than ever.
Afghan Bombing Death Toll Rises to Six (July 12, 2004)
Afghanistan: An unknown bomber set off an explosion in Herat, a western Afghan city, severely wounding an elderly man who later died. The continuing instability, even in the cities, shows how little respect the installed government merits from the citizenry. The response? A tougher approach to win disarmament.
Pakistani 'Saw Iraq Beheadings' (July 12, 2004)
Pakistan: Ms. Hafeez, an extremely happy elderly Pakistani mother, welcomed her son, Amjad, home from Iraq. Iraqi insurgents had captured her son, who was working as a driver for the Occupying US forces, and threatened to execute him.
Nevertheless, they freed her son, Amjad, after he witnessed three executions. The son, the family's only breadwinner, says he may return to Kuwait
but never to Iraq. He warns other Pakistanis not to serve in Iraq.
Elderly Workers try to Revive Kabul Factory
(April 11, 2004)
In Afghanistan, workers decided to go back to work at the Jangalak Factory in Kabul. The huge factory produced wood products but a generation of war ruined it. Today, 200 long-time workers try to revive the place. Many of them are 50, or even 60, and were employees at the factory for years. Even if they haven't been paid for three months, their will and strength make them move forward. They want their factory to be reborn and they face many challenges. They are a great example of strong, courageous people who want to rebuild the industrial base to support themselves and their country.
Afghan
War Criminals Still Unpunished (March 29, 2004)
This March 2004 report from Kabul conveys the frustration some Afghan
citizens feel about a history of human rights abuses that have been
ignored during the past 23 years. Due to the instability of the
governing bodies and the shifting alliances among the population and
their foreign backers, it is improbable that any impartial action is
possible in the near term.
Karzai Tackles Ethnic Issues Head On (January 8,
2004)
In a speech to the closing session of the Loya
Jirga (Grand Council) on January 4, Afghan President Hamid Karzai
expresses his desire to see ethnic tolerance, respect, and cooperation
in Afghanistan, as well as rule of law and
political process. Many times in his speech, Karzai highlights the
wisdom and guidance of Afghan elders, and pledges to build a more just
and equitable society for them.
Violence Claims Nine More Lives in Afghanistan (January
8, 2004)
In the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, an elderly man lying
in his bed was killed when shrapnel from a bomb that exploded near a US military base crashed
through his roof.
Red
Cross Makes Special Case for the Elderly (October 2, 2001)
As
war looms, the vulnerability of older Afghans to displacement and harsh
winter conditions gives rise to concern. This article describes the work
of the Red Cross to ensure that older persons will have access to aid
and support services, and that they can play their traditional role in
helping the community cope with displacement.
