It is tragic to see that while some countries are at the zenith of their glory, others are being attacked, invaded, and their people killed mercilessly. Afghanistan has had a bloody history ever since it was completely independent of the British in 1919, from unpredictable changes in power to frequent assassinations. However, it was only in 1996 that the Afghan Government was overthrown by the Taliban, which back then was a branch of anti-communist Islamic guerrillas.
The Taliban, which refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has been internationally condemned for the harsh enforcement of what they believe to be Islamic Sharia law. The Sharia law which has been explained by Muslim scholars over the centuries is aimed towards justice, fairness and mercy. It has clearly been misinterpreted very often.
During their rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban committed massacres against civilians, denied UN supplies to those starving, burned vast areas of fertile land, destroyed millions of houses, silenced any attempts at self-expression, prohibited men from trimming their beards, and prevented women from availing education or working (except healthcare).
Women were also required to wear a Burqa and have a male chaperone while in public, violating any of these laws would cost them their lives. The Taliban also engaged in cultural genocide and destroyed monuments, the most prominent of them being the famous 1500-year-old Buddhas of Bamiyan. It is ironic to see so much sin committed in the name of religion.
Protest movements against this unconcealed misuse of power were suppressed and only resulted in the deaths of millions. Ultimately, this dictatorship was overthrown after the American invasion of Afghanistan (December 2001) following the 9/11 attacks. The US military forces continued to protect Afghanistan until US President Joe Biden announced that the US forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 11th September 2021.
Right after this withdrawal, the Taliban declared war. Ashraf Ghani who was the president of Afghanistan fled and Kabul was captured. The US President Joe Biden stated that it was never in America’s interests to go to Afghanistan for nation-building but to make sure that the Al -Qaeda (a terrorist organization) could not attack them with Afghanistan as a base again.
This gives a clear message that the prospects of US aid being sent to Afghanistan are very unlikely. Thousands of Afghans have left their homeland in the fear of the Taliban and their brutal, merciless government. People have been hoarding in airplanes in their desperate need to seek refuge.
With the power back in the hands of the Taliban, it is possible for Al-Qaeda to re-establish itself in Afghanistan. The former terrorists have been freed from prison and with all the looted weaponry and money. The terrorists are prospering at the expense of the common man’s loss. The masses will face unparalleled oppressions, paying with their lives and blood while the era of terror is back in Afghanistan, and yet again history repeats itself.
A crisis such as this will only bring harm to the people, especially women and children. It might even destroy the lives of many innocents. The once prosperous land of Afghanistan will be exploited once again. It will curb the basic rights of so many individuals, depriving them of their freedom and liberty. It is simply heart-wrenching to see the youth involved in terrorist groups such as this when they could’ve been contributing to the welfare of humankind instead of taking lives and causing terror. It is agonizing to know that while we are living in peace, going about our day-to-day lives, someone out there would be tortured or executed for no fault of theirs.
Feature Image Credits: Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images