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Background
Seven years after the fall of the Taliban regime,
Afghanistan is no more secure or safe for its people than it was before the arrival of the international forces. The country
made a significant step forward by forming the essential elements of the state, including the executive, judiciary and legislative
branches, and many political leaders are committed to bringing security, role of law and economic development to the people.
And, yet their efforts are hampered by the lack of resources, basic skills and capacity. People’s hopes
for a better life are slowly turning to despair and outrage because the developing government institutions do not have enough
resources and skills to meet the basic needs of the populace. The population’s trust and support for U.S. supported government
of President Karzai may also be at risk of erosion because the fragile institutions of the state are vulnerable to corruption.
Important government posts have gone to the warlords that inflicted untold misery on the population during the war. Because
the government’s reach does not extend far beyond the capital, many provinces of the country have become no man’s
land as the power vacum is being filled by the insurgency and destabilizing outside interests. These destructive forces lead
to political alienation of the people who are denied the basic right to participate in their government. Billions of dollars in international aid pouring into the country since
2001 made little difference in the lives of ordinary Afghans due to the lack of effective mechanism of channeling funds for
the benefit of people and pervasive corruption. Outside of Kabul, many Afghans today have limited access to basic services
like healthcare, food and security. The international forces, originally welcomed into the country as the promise of
security and better life, is distrusted by most Afghans.
Ø The Need
Ø Representation
in the United States
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