tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271854642024-02-12T19:06:32.646+04:30Association of Afghan Blog Writers (AABW)Afghan PenLoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08657027021263995827noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-21126084848653746662015-09-06T13:44:00.000+04:302015-09-06T13:44:20.139+04:305 Ways How Afghans Can Help Asylum Seekers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Afghan Civil Society and pressure groups should immediately meet with UN
office in Kabul, working on an urgent plan where the UN, international
community and the countries with flows of asylum seekers must accept the asylum
seekers without question, with the motto “The Migration Is My Right”, which is
confirmed in Human Right Declaration. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Afghan Government + local civil society meeting with embassies of
abovementioned countries to accept the asylum seekers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Suggest “One Soldier, One Refugee” agreement. In other words, any country
which deployed army to the countries where from the asylum seekers are coming
should accept one asylum seeker in an exchange to one soldier from those
Western countries. Because such countries inflamed and mongered war in
Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Afghan civil society activists and organizations should contact with
Western organizations, charities and influential people to provide shelter and
food for the asylum seekers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Collect financial and non-financial assistance to the asylum seekers
through public gathering, meeting with business figures and the central
government <o:p></o:p></div>
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basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-6123187767489625072013-05-30T08:51:00.000+04:302013-05-30T08:51:29.319+04:30How Bradley Manning and Julian Assange Changed My Mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Born and raised in Iran – where my mind was bombarded that <i>Iran
is</i> the<i> Promised Land</i> – I was looking for freedom, of any kind at the
ideal level, but I was told that you have freedom because you are a Muslim. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Upon return to Afghanistan being introduced to social media
tools, particularly Facebook, and the advent of new free media, I was told that
Afghanistan has the most liberal media networks in the region. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After 2008 and the official launches of information by
WikiLeaks, I was wondering what real freedom is; is it the <i>Promised Land</i>
or access to the most liberal media networks in the region or something else. Since
then, freedom has been scratching my mind and I today claim that I have found
what freedom, and freedom of speech in particular. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To let you know how I see freedom of speech and how I found
it, I need to tell you a story. Two years ago, for the first time, I read an
article and watched a movie released by WikiLeaks. I ponder over with myself
that how the administrator(s) of a website can have access to the information
that have shocked me, and maybe the world. My curiosity began beeping and I went
to internet to find more about WikiLeaks, who is/are administrating it, how
they got access to so-called unclassified information. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNBJOLSxd1gfDXmMTbRaL3vrF5iRO8IoVtUNA1_dFtqQtsQBowApC5Bkc3olwUhkL5NYy7kVP3mbJhEujSNs56GnyPz2FUkPORjVi21PQEg73_417DtWCbeE_QPVAgSdk6nD1/s1600/wikileaks-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNBJOLSxd1gfDXmMTbRaL3vrF5iRO8IoVtUNA1_dFtqQtsQBowApC5Bkc3olwUhkL5NYy7kVP3mbJhEujSNs56GnyPz2FUkPORjVi21PQEg73_417DtWCbeE_QPVAgSdk6nD1/s320/wikileaks-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reading articles, watching documentary and art movies and
contemplating over the importance and role of what WikeLeaks have done
(unleashing 2 million letters and documents), once I said to myself “hey Basir,
you have been looking to breath someday in a free world in where you could
experience the government accountable and transparent to you and to your
dreams. Now you have it. But how? By accessing to information; access to real
and out of box information is the fundamental piece of real freedom.” My mind
blossomed and got happy. “Yes Basir, that’s what you have been looking for. This
is FREEDOM”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, despite the fact that I am far away to Bradley Manning
and Julian Assange – two young guys that helped me find my everlasting dreams –
I want to send my heartfelt message to both of them. I want to say “thanks
Bradley brother and Julian brother for what you have been doing. You saved my
life by turning my mind; now, it is my turn to try to save your life. I am with
you and I love you.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-29598624200153758372013-05-27T08:36:00.000+04:302013-05-27T08:36:03.245+04:30Hunger Strike and 6 Corrupted Parliamentarians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today is the 8<sup>th</sup> day of hunger strike in Kabul.
Yesterday and the before, different student groups announced their support from this newly civil
movement by commencing hunger strike in other provinces of the country like
Bamian, Daikundi, Herat and Balkh. So far, the health condition of a dozen of
students reported deteriorating, being hospitalized. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the, ridiculously interesting, characteristics of
Afghans is that if somebody did something, other would do the same without any
logical contemplation behind his/her action. Now too many Afghans are joined or
joining hunger strike while central government has started distributing
election cards for citizens. <o:p></o:p></div>
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From one hand my Facebook wall and the walls of most of
friends of mine is scribbled away by photos and pieces of writing depicting the
hunger strike and what is going on second after the second. From the other
hand, a dozen of days ago, Minister of Finance addressed six parliamentarians
from different provinces as corrupted high rankings. However, this call turned
to a controversial topic for a few days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, I am writing this demonstrating that we shall not chase
only one specific social or political issue while parliamentarians are still
freely walking on the streets teasing Afghan citizens in their hearts. When we
face to an issue, we should not turn our back to another issue – that might be
more important than the other one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I believe that this is a well-organized short term plan from
parliament and even central government aiming at draw public and media
attention from corruption to civil movements. <o:p></o:p></div>
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basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-49271890027328900392013-03-25T09:35:00.002+04:302013-03-25T09:35:48.787+04:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">To The Next Generation by Basir Bita</strong></div>
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رویاهایم تنها در چشمان تو به واقعیت می پیوندند</div>
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I can only find my dreams real in your eyes</div>
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با حسی از امید به دیدن آنها</div>
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With a sense of hope to see</div>
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بلند شدم و تو دستانم را فشردی</div>
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I got up and you hold my hands</div>
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قلبم را با عشقت فشار بده</div>
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Squeeze my heart with your love</div>
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خونم را به عطر مبدل کن</div>
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Turn my blood to perfume.</div>
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دیگر زمزمه نکن</div>
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Stop whispering,</div>
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با من حرف بزن</div>
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Talk to me</div>
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تو اولین برف در بیابان منی</div>
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You’re the first snow of my desert life</div>
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گریه تا من پربار شوم</div>
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Weep until I get fruitful</div>
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و آنگاه که پر بار شدم</div>
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And when I am fruitful</div>
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تو در زیر سایه ی مرطوبم در تابستان زندگی ات بیاسای”</div>
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You will rest under my wet shadow in the summer of your life</div>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-4563849428649263232013-03-17T15:39:00.001+04:302013-03-17T15:39:37.193+04:30Still Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Based on the cultural values of my country, white and black make an ancient contradiction. Here is a contradiction of two black and white hearts in which you still find love. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Last night I was asked to visualize my imagination, I came up with this painting. Thanks my friend who invited me. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Humanity is still alive.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span>
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basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-8793153269657627602013-03-16T11:56:00.000+04:302013-03-16T11:57:04.745+04:30International Funds Keeps Me Uncreative<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">International Funds Keeps Me
Uncreative<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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In this small text, I would like to share one of my thoughts
concerning all money and funds that have been flowing to Afghanistan, but
Afghanistan is only one example. What I am trying to say here is based on my
experience, what I have seen and read. I cannot say for sure that how much
money the USA and its allies have spent in Afghanistan to so-called reconstruct
it. But, what I can say for sure is that one of the reasons superpowers care
about is rising of new global geniuses who would deform “new world orders” and
construct them into new form. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Superpowers spend lots of money in their countries,
exploiting researchers, scholars, theorists on HOW TO BE MORE CREATIVE and all
those guys build up new theories, technologies and etc. They don’t know that
their governments only care about to find the holes and gaps inside and outside
the creativity aiming to, first, fill them up preventing other countries. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here, what I am trying to bring up is that superpowers,
through funds, deposits, gratuitous money to developing countries, want to keep
developing countries uncreative. All these monies stop residents of developing
countries dependent on floods of free-of-charge money. And researchers have
proven that financial dependence stops human brain’s capacity to ponder over.
When a boy just like me in Afghanistan is busy enough with making money,
ridiculous politics, senseless Free Market, global democracy mottos and too
many other preoccupations, how am I going to be creative thinking of how to
build my world the way I desire? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No way! All the people I know in my country are stuck with
making money; for them, money speaks first. “2014 has become a nightmare from
which we cannot wake up safely” this is what they think. Friends of mine are
fleeing the country, businesspeople are withdrawing their money investing in
other countries, politicians are dealing over a vague and unclear future for
Afghans. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that if we Afghans were allowed at the beginning of
scenario to think creatively, or we were taught and guided how to think
constructively creative with an aim to help each other to join the world to
forward-look, we would have a better status quo. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-34320702840685932932013-03-02T15:37:00.000+04:302013-03-02T15:37:07.571+04:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Karzai's Usual Political Game</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I can vividly remember last presidential election in Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
Karzai has started a huge new political game in Afghanistan. Now Karzai has ordered that international forces shall leave Wardak province, while annual Kochi-Hazara battle is going to be flamed by earlier new solar year. Hazara leaders, all media outlets and Hazara intellectual will be geared and involved with this yearly issue.<br />
<br />
From the other hand, now there is going to be a big issue with so-called(?) Kankoor,, entry exam for university. Some say that Hazara committed fraud in Kankoor. Karzai is utilizing this opportunity for his political interests.<br />
<br />
Since a couple of days ago, Karzai ordered that we have to publicize and develop our own franca-linguas (Farsi and Pashto). I have seen in modern and traditional media that they have started covering this issue and taking stand against or for this president's decree.<br />
<br />
Moreover, a new wave of suicide attacks have been committed and are on the way aiming to keep media and public busy with stale and banal stuff like abovementioned issues.<br />
<br />
Then, he will fulfill his huge plan. This plan has been commenced since two years ago.<br />
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-17749961455586381872013-03-02T08:32:00.002+04:302013-03-02T08:32:44.477+04:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Letter to
Zuckerberg<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night at 9 o’clock I was watching the <i>Militarization
of Science and Space, </i>a nicely intellectual speech by Noam Chomsky at Auditorium
of Massachusette Institute of Technology. I met a close non-Afghan friend of
mine last night discussing with two more Afghan friends, a little bit, on
social media and its impacts on mobilizing youths through social media tools
and what Afghan friends of mine have been campaigning and doing through
Facebook in particular to reach their voices to international community. Chomsky
lectured about how economy and tycoons are using military sphere to dominate
science and space. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, this idea came to my mind that “how Zuckerberg,
as the founder of Facebook, can help Afghans bring a remarkably big social
change in Afghanistan; of course I mean peace which is from my point of view
Afghans’ current greatest wish?” I came to the conclusion that Zuckerberg can
send a daily message expressing his interest in peace-building in the world,
particularly in Afghanistan, to all Facebook users. He can build a fan page
making everyone on the Facebook a member and mobilizing them to campaign for
peace activism. I assume that if he sends all Facebookers a message in daily
basis to take a step for peace, then we will be reminded of the importance of
peace in the world, and Afghanistan specifically. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have any other idea(s), please share it with me to
establish a globally effective and useful idea. Or you can share this post on
your Facebook account and other social media tools to reach our voices to
Zuckerberg. On that time, his attention might be drawn to peace and
peace-building, although I am pretty sure that Zuckerberg, as a young man in
the US, has already had this idea, but he was looking forward to hearing from
the people around the world how they feel if he starts sending only one message
per day to all Facebook users. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe it is out of his personal/financial interests, but his
name will be shining in the history of humanity and non-violence just like Mahatma
Gandhi . Please jot down your ideas, concerns and solutions to get this goal.
We need to reach our voices to Zuckerberg that “Mr. Zuckerberg, please us and
it is your human responsibility to assist the people of the world to live a
more peaceful globe. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-77723443104049764042013-02-07T12:45:00.000+04:302013-02-07T13:11:01.722+04:30Communing With Grandpa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h2>
<b>Communing With Grandpa</b></h2>
</div>
<br />
I was just thinking to myself about my children and grandchildren.<br />
<br />
When I was 18, I was always criticizing my grandfather who made his youngest daughter marry a blind, disable man telling my mom "Mom, if my grandpa was still alive, I would chop him."<br />
<br />
Now, I am the father of a daughter who is 9 years old. I am wondering how my daughter and her children would ask me when I am 65 years old. I am pretty sure that they would say "dad/grandpa the USA and its coalition flooded billions of dollar and the government at that time was identified as the most corrupt government of the world. You had, to some extent, a good and safe country.<br />
<br />
Why didn't you and your friends do anything to make a better, safer and more prosperous country for us? Now we have nothing. You and your friends saturated yourself and didn't care about us. How are you going to answer all my questions? It is time for me to put forward my question.<br />
<br />
ANSWER ME GRANDPA".<br />
<br />
How am I going to respond my grandchildren?<br />
<br />
I am facebooking and writing this to you and doing nothing for them. Don't you think I should do something for them?<br />
<br />
Please help me!!!!<br />
<br />
Share it with your friends please. They may have something for me.</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-82304722898741886572013-02-03T17:43:00.000+04:302013-02-05T08:40:08.897+04:30The Colors Have Come<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The below is half of my newest short story translated by a friend. Remained half is going to be translated by the end of the week."<br />
<br />
To ALL LADIES WHO HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF CHANGE, INSPIRATION OF CHANGE AND CHANGE AGENT.<br />
<br />
"The Colors Have Come<br />
The world color came to the tribe’s minds when tribal population found dean’s cloth dotted. At that time, the tribe had another name whose contemporary meaning is “grief and loneliness”. That happened one hundred years after Great Father founded the tribe. Everyone was interested in knowing why dean’s cloth has been tainted. Taint/dot had different senses for them, but since they have heard in their ancient stories that “if you saw someone from the tribe whose cloth has been transformed, you shall know that his life has come to the end.” It was oversensitive for them. He would lose his life.<br />
<br />
“What does transformation mean?” a girl asked herself the question who transformed dean’s white cloth. Getting up in the morning, the girl went straight to the room in which her father left two little goats for her to raise. The two goats had different ages; the smaller from one mother, the bigger from another.<br />
<br />
Her mother took her from the room making her sleep in her bed for many nights. The goats became her friends and fellows. She talked to them, fed them, hiked with them and went back home with them. She dressed the goats.<br />
<br />
For the first time, she found her goats’ cloths dotted. They were passing the river. The girl jumped. The river was the only dirty place. Other places were all clean. The small goat barely jumped but the slope of its cloth got dotted and some big dots were found on it. At the same time, the bigger goat bounced toward the smaller goat robbing its cloth to the smaller’s. They robbed and kept robbing until their cloths’ color was changed. The girl starred at them in wonder. “You shouldn’t make your cloths muddy.<br />
<br />
Now your cloths are untouchable and they shall be burned.” She shouted.<br />
<br />
As she intended to catch them, they ran away. She got amazed. She went after them they never run away from me. Maybe they are playing with me. She ran after them in hurry. The closer she approached them, the faster they ran and the more they got away. Her doubt turned to certainty; they were escaping from her.<br />
<br />
All of a sudden, the smaller goat stopped. Maybe it thought that it was the girl who raised them. The girl slowed down and reached the smaller goat. The bigger one stopped too. A telepathy between two peers. She immediately embraced the smaller goat. She squeezed it and felt cold and warmth of the smaller goat. Suddenly, she trembled and kept the goat away. She looked at her cloth and found her cloth muddy. She got upset. Now how she could tell her mother that three cloths have become unclean and untouchable? Looking more meticulously at her and the goats, she found that their color has been transformed. What was this color? Was it a color at all or that was just a dot?<br />
<br />
On the way back to home, she just sought for an answer for the question. Later one, the answer led to make dean’s cloth dotted.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Dean invited the girl’s father time and again. He told him “the power inside your daughter’s eyes kills me.” Took a deep breath and went ahead “make your daughter my wife. Your grandchild would be the next dean. Make your daughter my wife and enjoy prosperity as long as you are alive.”<br />
<br />
After many begs and threats, the father made his daughter dean’s wife. In the first night of marriage, the girl already burned dean’s all cloths except one he had on. The dean came to the room and shut the door behind the daughter and himself. He walked slowly to the girl, sat on the mattress and starred at the girl. His lip corner bounced once a while due to oldness. He sneezed and looked at the girl smiling.<br />
<br />
The more he approached the girl, the more the girl moved back. As the dean found the girl did not subdue, he prolonged his hand grabbing the girl’s sleeve. The girl slapped the dean’s hand throwing out. Dean just smiled. He snaked a bit to the girl, but she didn’t move this time.<br />
<br />
“honey, why do you want to stay away?”<br />
<br />
She didn’t reply. Heading down, she didn’t look at him.<br />
<br />
“raise your head up and look at me. We have an important work tonight. You are supposed to give birth to next dean.”<br />
<br />
He put his hand on her shoulder. Her temperature accelerated. She felt cold although she already swelled. Dean’s hand was heavier than her father’s. She would weep if her father was next to her.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, she came up with the question for which he could not have found the answer yet. What color would it be if dean’s cloth was mudded? She just intended to ask the dean, but she changed her mind. “Did you want to say something? Tell me, now you are dean’s wife.” Dean said.<br />
<br />
The girl started speaking gradually. “just wanted…” she said moving on the mattress. She paused and suddenly came up with something. “I ask you not to spend our first night on the mattress.” She said.<br />
<br />
Dean’s lip corner bounced. “Do you know somewhere better?” he said smiling.<br />
<br />
“hmmm… I assume it is nice out there. What about next to the river and trees?”<br />
Dean paused a while. Why there?<br />
<br />
“Why there?”<br />
<br />
“I have loved there since childhood. I want to spend first night with my child’s parents there.”<br />
<br />
“Agree. Let’s go.” He said with a big smile.<br />
<br />
They both headed and got there. Both sat and laid down. There were not distant from the river. “Do you know that we should not undress except there?” Dean said.<br />
<br />
She spread her hairs on the grass. “Yes, I know.” She replied.<br />
<br />
Dean pillared his hand around the girl’s shoulders. She could smell stinky and disgusting exhale when dean breathe out.<br />
<br />
“you ready, honey?”<br />
<br />
She nodded.<br />
<br />
Dean started. The girl even did not ouch.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-5428237656319671422013-02-02T09:54:00.001+04:302013-02-05T08:41:22.966+04:30Letter to International Friends of Mine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Second Letter to
International Friends of Mine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my first letter to international <b>friends</b> I brought
up few points such as <i>building friendship with Afghans, <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I would like to share some other imprtant points by
which Afghans and internationals can have healthy and constructively positive
relationship. One of the piont is that Afghan intellectuals believe that our
international friends have a <i>up-down </i>view. In other words; when a
foreigner talks and treats an Afghan, s/he has a up-down look, meaning that the
international friend consider the Afghan peer as someone who lives in society
less developed and less civilized land whom are a burden to international’s
country. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They look at Afghans in a way that Afghans are reponsible
for any evil things happening in their country and Afghan government is the
source of all curses. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please international friends, change your view and look at
your Afghan peers, only if you do not want a hell is generated out of their
wrath. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The second piont that I would like to piont out in this
letter is that I have witnessed and heard that our international friends tease,
mock and make fun of Afghan traditions, beliefs and even appearance. And it is
disgusting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someday ago, I went to an international friend’s for
volunteer purposes; translation, finding connection and some other stuff. In
there, there were some other cool internatioanl friends. They already had fun
before I came up. But, after a while, they began making fun of their Afghan
friends(?) that they are such stupid, they are lazy guys, look at their
primitive belifs and etc. and in order to get approval, they told me “isn’t it
right, Basir?” “you are an open minded guy, Basir and you don’t give a piece of
shit to such fucking ideas.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though I really don’t give a penny to destructive ideas and
beliefs, even trygin to restrcture those ideas and beliefs to a constructive
ones in the best possible ways, I pondered over such selfish behavior. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Come on, international friends. Change your idea; look at us
in a more human-centered way and treat your Afghan colleagues better if you
want to stay with them peacefully. No more <b>up-down </b>view, no more teasing
each other’s ideas, beliefs, traditions, appearance and etc. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We love to be in touch with you; we love to have friends out
of you; we love to build our homeland (the earth) together and enjoy our lives
together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I don’t review what I am saying in order to be pure and
express what I feel, think and concern about. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-25262614186203888932013-01-24T07:59:00.001+04:302013-01-24T07:59:08.900+04:30 Dr Sarmast's Music School Afghanistan's Institute of Music helps revitalise a ruined culture and gives children a chance to transform their lives. Source <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2013/01/201311412401920574.html"><b>Al Jazeera</b></a><br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Filmmakers: Polly Watkins and Beth Frey</b><br />
In 2001, when the Taliban was toppled from power, Afghanistan's
musical culture was left in ruins. Music gradually came back onto the
streets and into people's lives, but by 2009 there was still no
orchestra capable of playing the Afghan national anthem.<br />
In that year, renowned musicologist Dr Ahmad Sarmast returned from
exile in Australia, and the Ministry of Education charged him with
establishing the first National Institute of Music (ANIM). Based in what
had been Kabul's School of Fine Arts, ANIM got off to a slow start: the
building was a ruin and there were virtually no instruments.<br />
<br />
<i>Dr Sarmast's Music School</i> follows ANIM's progress over two
years as, gradually, the school is repaired and made habitable. Fine
instruments - many donated by foreign sponsors - flood in, and the
school's 150 pupils gradually learn to play to professional standards.<br />
Perhaps, most importantly, ANIM offers hope to some of the country's
most deprived children; those snatching a meagre income from working on
the streets who find - through music - a way to transform their lives.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-40518463655521586422013-01-21T12:59:00.002+04:302013-01-21T12:59:28.689+04:30Why Taliban targeted Department of Traffic?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">I guess Taliban attacked Department of Traffic following the below aims:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">1. Department of Traffic have recorded various information regarding the cars that Taliban have been using. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">2. This department have tracked what kinds of car, with what plate, color made by what countries and where they have enter through in Afghanistan. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">3. Department of Traffic has recently passed new law on plates, license and other stuff to not only control traffic jam, but also find terrorists much better.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Since we don't have electronic professional storing and recording systems, we might have lost bulks of information and records. That's why Taliban/insurgents targeted Department of Traffic, although it is said that they were aimed to fire on Border Police Department (that I doubt). </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Please share it if you think I evaluate well.</span>
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-59821525247626339792013-01-19T14:34:00.000+04:302013-01-19T14:34:32.793+04:30A Letter to my Joint Afghan and Non-Afghan Friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
A Letter to my Joint Afghan and Non-Afghan Friends<br />
<br />
Here, I want to express my idea about foreigners and their existence in Afghanistan.<br />
<br />
As an Afghan, who is concerned about his national territory and national independence, I am worried of international political interferences in my national political affairs. It is the same in any other country and has to be like this.<br />
<br />
But as someone who is passionate for the future of his country, we need to have internationals and foreigners with us not only for broader communication and international relationship, but also to interact with them more friendly rather than diplomatically.<br />
<br />
In almost all of Afghans minds, foreigners have a military face and appearance, since the US and its coalition have come to bring security through weapons and war against terrorism.<br />
<br />
I believe that what foreigners need to know is "changing their face" from a POLITICAL and MILITARY one to a friendly, helpful and passionate one. I personally need foreigners to help me more academically. I want to find and visit them mostly as academicians, musicians, actors, peace-makers, poets, novelists, philosopher, theorist, filmmaker.<br />
<br />
To my Afghan friends, even we should try to help them change their face; we shall ask them to be in a more favorite and friendly way (as mentioned above).<br />
<br />
My foreigner friends (whoever you are, where ever you live, and whatever you do), if you want Afghans be your friends, change your face and grab my hand kindly.<br />
<br />
I want to be your brother not your sworn enemy.<br />
<br />
PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU FOUND IT INTERESTING!<br />
</div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-31151878513738744232013-01-17T22:45:00.004+04:302013-01-17T22:51:45.553+04:30Sabrina Saqib speaks at Harvard Kennedy School <b>The Tipping Point: Elevating Women for Global Security</b><br />
<img border="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzNTg*NDY*MTI2MjUmcHQ9MTM1ODQ*NjQxNjM1OSZwPSZkPSZnPTImbz*3YmM2MWM3NjEwMWQ*MDQ1YTVlNGEyMjhl/MDA3NjdkYyZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><object allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" data="http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/1_dcqzym4q/uiconf_id/6223472" height="380" id="kaltura_player_1358446413" name="kaltura_player_1358446413" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="550"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/1_dcqzym4q/uiconf_id/6223472"/><param name="flashVars" value=""/><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com">video platform</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/video_management">video management</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/solutions/video_solution">video solutions</a><a href="http://corp.kaltura.com/video_platform/video_publishing">video player</a></object><br />
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Rahaa Altalli from Syria, Wafa Bugaighis from Libya, Julia Duncan-Cassell from Liberia, Ja Nan Lahtaw from Myanmar, Sofi Ospina from Colombia, and Sabrina Saqeb from Afghanistan sit with Ambassador Swanee Hunt to discuss their experiences participating in the peace building process. This event was co-sponsored by the Center for Public Leadership, the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, and the Women and Public Policy Program.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/tipping-point-elevating-women-global-security">Harvard Kennedy School website</a> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-19196030803958369862013-01-17T12:06:00.000+04:302013-01-17T12:06:20.130+04:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Dear friends,<br />
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We all know that Afghanistan is the country of problems and troubles. There have hypothesized different theories on how to RECONSTRUCT(?) Afghanistan, democratize it and find best solutions to solve her problems.<br />
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It is always believed that Afghans themselves can be the core element to solve the problems. And we have brought so many tangible changes in our daily lives. One of the means through and by which we have experienced the changes was SOCIAL MEDIA and particularly Facebook.<br />
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We have witnessed since last year the following changes brought through Facebook:<br />
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1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shariati Professor<br />
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Two Hazara pilot girls<br />
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazara genocide in Quetta (Hazaras strike in Quetta made provincial governance collapsed)<br />
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shojaee and Uruzgan<br />
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Taqi Bakhtiary<br />
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Number 39<br />
7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shakila murder (sexual abuse) and some others<br />
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Bringing changes need commitment, hardworking and financial as well as time energy. We Afghans have proven that we are committed, hardworkers and ready to spend our life time to have a secure and prosperous country.<br />
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As a friend, my concern, which looks like a question and recommendation, is that "why do not we take action seriously and well-planned for a while consecutively in order to bring desirable changes?" We just random write about political stuff and then stop it. We post and advocate for corruption one day, and after a while, we stop it.<br />
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Let's committed campaign for women rights to get it. Let's campaign for peace all of us to bring it. Let's campaign for "Transition Decade" all of us together and turn this nightmare to a nice and fruitful dream.<br />
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basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-90135166409977546792013-01-14T09:23:00.002+04:302013-01-14T09:27:16.340+04:30Hazaras Are Always Being Played By Their Politicians<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Again we Hazaras went to a nightmare; the nightmare that has stopped us pondering over other important issues that have more dangerous and longer impacts on our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Our president, Hamed Karzai, travelled to the US and made his final decision that would have potential and actual effects on generation after generation of, not only Hazaras, but also other ethnic groups. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Why don’t we now pay attention to that? It has always been a political trick to make Afghans busy with issues like Hazara genocide in Pakistan in order to make their final decision: slavery of Afghans. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Please get up, raise your voices in this issue and advocate as good as you have done for Hazaras in Pakistan.</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Do not you think that Muhaqiq and Khalili are calm because they have dealt over our future? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Think a bit about it and then leave your comments. </span></div>
basir bitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285579290559537614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-28064167934034005182012-12-27T22:53:00.001+04:302012-12-27T22:53:37.518+04:30Opportunities for Entrepreneurs in Afghanistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;">Submit a
photo of real technology entrepreneurs in action along with a
descriptive caption for the opportunity to win the latest Apple gadgets,
international recognition and most importantly, highlight
entrepreneurship happening in Afghanistan to the world!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><br />Follow these easy steps to apply for GIST’s photo competition:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;"><br />1. 'Like' GIST's Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GISTinitiative" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>GISTinitiative</a> <br />2. Click on the Entrepreneurs in Action tab on the GIST page (second tab)<br />3. Click on the Entrepreneurs in Action banner<br />4. Click on the Upload tab and submit a photo/design/artwork and a caption<br />5. IMPORTANT: Encourage people to vote for your submission, by publicizing in your social networks!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;">About
GIST—Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) builds
entrepreneurial ecosystems across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa by
identifying, coaching, and funding the most promising technology
entrepreneurs. GIST forges links at the individual and institutional
levels among entrepreneurs, angel investors, and the marketplace to
improve quality of life through economic prosperity. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333;">For further information, please visit the website http://www.crdfglobal.org/ </span></div>
Nasim Fekrathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08368911780628924699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-71168051081015811222012-04-21T04:24:00.003+04:302012-04-21T04:24:46.994+04:30Bamiyan Citizens March with Light and Hope to Protest against Karzai’s Neglect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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by Basir Ahang</div>
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On Wednesday in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan witnessed a demonstration of brilliance by Bamiyan citizens. Hundreds marched together over the 157 kilometers from Bamiyan to Kabul in a unified outcry against injustice and discrimination in their Province. With a unique sign of visionary hope, Bamiyan citizens carried lit kerosene lamps as a sign to President Obama, the United States and the United Nations.<br />
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“The United Nations and United States have lost their way in Afghanistan”, are the cries from Bamiyan civic movement leaders and activists. “This is why we march together with our kerosene lamps burning brightly! To bring a message to the world. Please wake up and see the light because our people are in serious trouble!”<br />
<br />These Bamiyan citizens bring their message of light and call for help to the US and the UN as there is still much work to be done to corrupt rule in Afghanistan.<br />
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<i>From right to left: Martyr Jawad Zuhak and Hazara photographer Najibullah Mosafir</i><br />
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Two years have passed since Bamiyan civic activists started their first peaceful protests in the city. The reasons for their protests were discrimination, injustice and neglect of their Province by the Afghanistan government. Discrimination and injustice continues to exist. In the beginning, the protest was led by Jawad Zuhak, the head of Bamiyan Provincial Council.<br />
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Bamiyan citizens started their civil protest across from the Parliament’s building. They expected the Parliament and Sena members to join them as representatives of the people and demand the government to stop the discrimination, injustice and neglect against Bamiyan people.<br />
<br />Some representatives of Parliament said they appreciated such civil movement and declared, “We hope to be witnesses of such protests in different parts of Afghanistan.” Parliament representatives emphasized they have had no intention of hurting or disrespect to problems of Bamiyan people.<br />
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Bamiyan citizens asked the representatives of Parliament to give the kerosene lamps to the US Embassy so they will understand that there is no electricity yet in Bamiyan. “We want the United Nations and US to know that of millions of dollars given to help Afghanistan, nothing has been done to help the suffering of the Bamiyan people! We need electricity and clean water to operate schools, a medical clinic and homes!” The civic leaders and citizens have been ignored long enough. Their message must reach out to those willing to help.<br />
<br />As a part of this protest, a commanding resolution has been requested to begin parallel development. There is hope that the law will eliminate all discrimination and injustice, and include participation of all Afghan community leaders. Also included is a request to restrain distrust between government and people. It is imperative the government of Afghanistan clearly state all of its policies and plans before foreign forces have exited the country.<br />
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The Continual Pain of Bamiyani Region</h3>
Bamiyan is located in central part of Afghanistan. It is a cultural capital as well. During the height of Afghanistan’s growth, prominent, wealthy cultures and peace loving religions thrived together in this region. But because this province has been the home of Hazara people, an ominous cloud of hatred and mistreatment has come to the countryside. The timeline of history now shows a harsh road of oppression by tribal oriented governors leaving the Hazara people deprived and enslaved without room for improvement.<br />
<br />It does not seem such a long time ago that within the pulsating heart of Bamiyan existed the glorious tall statues of Buddha. They were the most beautiful and magnificent statues which held so much cultural and historical symbolism for Bamiyan citizens and the Hazara People. These statues stood tall with so much spiritual meaning and they embraced the people through time with the truths from teachings of their beloved Buddha. Sadly, men of the Taliban destroyed this sacred place during their occupation of Bamiyan’s "Sun shining region". The Taliban barbarically massacred thousands of men, women and children in the region and destroyed their homes just for being Hazaras.<br />
<br />Eleven years after the downfall of the brutal Taliban regime and the rising of new government in Afghanistan, there has been no change in the oppression of the Bamiyan region. Many families are still without a stable roof over their heads. Remaining pieces of the destroyed statues of Buddha are lovingly relished as hundreds of families live in the most difficult of situations. They live inside of dark caves like prehistoric clans. These caves were originally fashioned by ancestors for the purpose of solitude and prayer. Now they sustain them not only their prayers but in their entire way of life. Imagine life in a cave in the midst of a brutal winter. While Karzai and his parliament rest in warm homes, hundreds must resort to sleeping in caves as shelter.<br />
<br />When the Bamiyan citizens arrive in Kabul with their kerosene lamps, they peacefully urge that the discrimination and systematic oppression by the government be stopped immediately. These neglected citizens know that they are most loyal and humble citizens of Afghanistan. When your country is in danger of foreign occupation or unknown rules, the Bamiyans are the primary Afghan patriots defending the independence of their country.<br />
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Upon arrival to Kabul, there was yet again the repeat of conflict between Parliament and the Financial Ministry of Karzai’s government regarding the Developmental Budget of 1391/2012. As in past years, this budget has ignored central and northern Provinces while allocating funds for development and construction to the Pashton Provinces. This partiality toward specific provinces by Karzai’s government is criticized by many well-known personalities and Afghan community leaders. Parliament has indeed rejected Karzai’s plan for a second time, but his cronies will continue to pressure Parliament, or worse pay them with aid money, to vote for his highly discriminatory plan.<br />
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In this current shaky situation, the Bamiyan people know it is of vital importance to maintain the given "achievements of ten years" post-Taliban. They know that the only way to maintain these achievements and move toward a stable and developing Afghanistan is demanding elimination of discrimination, injustice and oppression.<br />
<br />Despite their determination to be model citizens, Bamiyan civic leaders know that peaceful movements and protests may create a spark of danger to peaceful negotiations with Parliament. The Afghanistan government is dancing to its own happy tune while the people of Bamiyan have been struggling to find one good string for their aging rubab. While their sincerest hopes are to open the blind eyes and deaf ears of neglectful Kabul governors, there is an ever present fear that a Bamiyan citizen who is suffering, or has lost a loved one due to Karzai’s neglect, will secretly plan an attack which harms innocent people.<br />
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History of Civic Movements in Bamiyan</h3>
Through this history of hell in Afghanistan, the Taliban were consumed with murder, suicide attacks, treason and narcotics, while the survival of its good people was based on a strategy of hard work and hopes for a return to freedom. Instead of picking up guns and retaliative methods of attack, the Bamiyan people used their pens and symbolic protests. A true sign of wisdom amidst the thunder of arguing voices seeking power.<br />
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Jawad Zuhak, Bamiyan’s leading civic activist, was murdered for writing against those suffering from neglect from Karzai’s government. Karzai has focused on the areas of his choosing instead of an equitable rebuilding plan. In a symbolic protest, Zuhak’s mobilized his people to pave the road with mud. After the protest, they presented letters of appreciation to the donkeys used for the purpose of holding water for the people. Bamiyan citizens humbly joked that these donkeys have helped the people more than any government official.<br />
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When the electricity was turned off to the region, another civic protest was prepared. The protesters hung a large kerosene lamp in the "Martyred Mazari’s" Field and sent another kerosene lamp as a gift to Esmaeil Khan, Karzai’s minister of Ministry of Water and Energy.<br />
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Serious Life-threatening Problems</h3>
Bamiyan citizens are suffering from many problems. Poor roads, lack of medical health and emergency service centers, no electricity, poverty, unemployment and vagrancy. All of these have made a painful situation in this province. In winters, the snowy roads through the mountains to the city are closed for travel shutting off what little flow of supplies from compassionate countrymen to care for the people of the region. With severe drops of the temperature to below zero degrees, something as simple as a cold can cause death for the Bamiyan people.<br />
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In education aspect, many schools do not have buildings and the students are obliged to come under a blazing summer sun for study to achieve their intended future. They study to change tomorrow’s situation, give hand their patriots, but because of the difference of their physical faces from others, even they are deprived of public stationeries.<br />
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The most painful thing is the absence of a proper house in which to live. Hundreds of families are still living inside caves. Most of them are those whom their houses were destroyed during the murdering forces of Taliban occupation. Life of cavemen is painful for every human being. The majority of the children born in a cave die.<br />
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Physical and mental problems are increasing without proper medical assistance. In the winter, because the cold weather forces them inside the caves away from the biting cold and winds, all of them cook their food by collier and wood inside the caves. There is no way for proper exhaust and air exchange. This causes most of the cave dwellers to be stricken with sicknesses.<br />
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If you are reading this, please take note to the outcry from the good Bamiyan people. The citizens of Bamiyan region are suffering while the United Nations contributes millions of dollars to Afghanistan. A decade has passed and this money has been poorly allocated and misused. Karzai’s government continues to distribute hundreds of thousands to his own secret people for his own agenda. This is Aid money that is supposed to be used for rebuilding the country of Afghanistan.<br />
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How can the Bamiyan people hope for a better tomorrow in a country with such corruption and discrimination? It is a violation to all that is good and true to allow a Bamiyani who loves his country go to his death because of cold weather and hunger when a so called president of his country gives his priority to releasing and providing for Pakistani suicide attackers. Karzai pays who will join his self-righteous cause and they begin assassinating innocent Afghan people.<br />
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If the United States, the United Nations and other good people of the world do not see the light from the kerosene lamps of the Bamiyan people, there is no doubt the peaceful movements of the suffering will heighten into conflict. It will only take a few children to die because of government neglect before the Afghan people unite to overturn a government that has turned its back on its people.</div>
</div>basir ahanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08100500886602500345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-55806262608600326192012-04-17T06:48:00.007+04:302012-04-17T06:55:09.812+04:30Afghan Photographer Became the 2012 Pulitzer Prize Winner<div class="post-thumbnail"> <div style="display: block;" class="image-container"><img style="margin-top: 0.5px;" src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/135280955_cut.jpg?w=649" /></div> <div class="hover-area prev-hover" style="top: -9999px;"> <div class="prev-image" style="display: none;"> </div> </div> <div class="hover-area next-hover" style="top: 0px;"> <div class="next-image" style="display: none;"> </div> </div> <div id="gallery-ad" style="display: none;"> </div> <div id="gallery-tout" style="display: none;"> <div class="gallery-end-top"> <h3 class="gallery-end-title">More on LightBox</h3> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/16/the-2012-pulitzer-prize-winner-massoud-hossaini/?iid=lb-gal-viewagn" class="gallery-replay">View Again</a> </div> <div class="external-gallery-row"> <div class="external-gallery "> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/13/pictures-of-the-week-april-6-april-13/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/002-north-korea-daily-life2.jpg?w=225" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Lightbox April 9, 2012" title="North Korea" border="0" height="150" width="225" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/13/pictures-of-the-week-april-6-april-13/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">Pictures of the Week: April 6 — April 13</a></h4> </div> <div class="external-gallery "> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/13/act/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/act-55-gladys-foggea.jpg?w=187" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Denis Darzacq courtesy Laurence Miller Gallery" title="Act-55-Gladys-Foggea-" border="0" height="150" width="187" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/13/act/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">‘Act’: Meditations on the Disabled Body</a></h4> </div> <div class="external-gallery last"> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/16/faces-of-protest-for-trayvon-martin/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/ak-foto_trayvon-journals01.jpg?w=223" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Andrew Kaufman—PSG Wire" title="AK-FOTO_Trayvon-Journals01" border="0" height="150" width="223" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/16/faces-of-protest-for-trayvon-martin/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">Faces of Protest for Trayvon Martin</a></h4> </div> </div> <div class="external-gallery-row"> <div class="external-gallery "> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/12/almost-dawn-in-libya/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/adil_004.jpg?w=225" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Lynsey Addario—The New York Times/Redux" title="ADIL" border="0" height="150" width="225" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/12/almost-dawn-in-libya/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">The Gallery as Public Square: ‘Almost Dawn in Libya’</a></h4> </div> <div class="external-gallery "> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/12/victims-of-assad/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/581.jpg?w=225" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Peter Hapak for TIME" title="The Victims of Assad: Photographs by Peter Hapak" border="0" height="150" width="225" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/12/victims-of-assad/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">The Victims of Assad: Photographs by Peter Hapak</a></h4> </div> <div class="external-gallery last"> <div class="external-gallery-img"> <a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/16/chechnya/?iid=lb-gal-moreon"><img src="http://timethemoment.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/mg_1208bv.jpg?w=225" class="attachment-gallery-tout wp-post-image" alt="Diana Markosian" title="_MG_1208bv" border="0" height="150" width="225" /></a> </div> <h4><a href="http://lightbox.time.com/2012/04/16/chechnya/?iid=lb-gal-moreon">The Girls of Chechnya</a></h4> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div style="font-style: italic;" class="image-meta"> <div class="description">Tarana Akbari, 12, screams after a suicide bombing at the Abul Fazel Shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan, on December 6, 2011.<img src="http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif" alt="Click here to find out more!" border="0" /><br /><br />Columbia University has announced the 2012 Pulitzer Prize winners—and they include Afghan photographer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Massoud Hossaini</span>, whose picture of a girl reacting to a suicide bombing took the title in the category of <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2012-Breaking-News-Photography" target="_blank">breaking news photography</a>.</div></div><div class="entry-content"> <p>The explosion of which the young girl, Tarana Akbari, is a survivor killed more than 70 people. Among the dead were seven of Akbari’s own family members, who had traveled to Kabul in honor of the holiday of Ashura; nine of her other relatives were wounded. The Pulitzer announcement calls the photograph, featured here, “heartbreaking.” Hossaini, who works with Agence France-Presse, is a native of Kabul and was raised in Iran. He was a political activist prior to taking up a camera and got his start photographing Afghan refugees living in his adopted country. He returned to his home country in 2002 and is still based there.</p> <p>The Pulitzer for <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2012-Feature-Photography" target="_blank">feature photography</a> went to Craig F. Walker of the Denver <em>Post </em>for his story about an Iraq War veteran.</p> <p>A full list of winners can be found on the <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/" target="_blank">Pulitzer Prize website</a>.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-37403754743394103402012-03-28T02:41:00.001+04:302012-03-28T02:43:41.998+04:30Female Taliban?! A group called RAWA<p><strong>Source: <a href="http://www.hazarapeople.com/2012/03/15/female-taliban-a-group-called-rawa/">Hazara People</a><br /></strong></p><p><strong>By: Mohammad Amin Wahidi </strong></p> <p><strong>It is obvious that the role of women as half part of the society is very crucial in any country’s development given that this potential is not mislead in wrong directions that are rather harmful for the society than useful. </strong></p> <p>The changes in Afghanistan in the last decade following the 9/11 attack opened a new horizon for millions of Afghanistani citizens which benefited particularly two large groups; the ethnic/religious minorities and the women who both suffered from the fundamentalism in Afghanistan during the years of Taliban sovereignty . </p> <p>These positive changes unfortunately were not so likeable to some specific groups who would look their benefit in the chaos of extremism and fundamentalism in the country to gain bred and fame for themselves. </p> <p>Among many groups including Taliban and other extremist armed groups that are mainly consist of male members; there is a women group as well, which is not so keen to embrace the new changes because its existence in the new changes would be questioned. </p> <p>Today unfortunately in Afghanistan, the so called group RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) like most of extremist groups in the world, comes under the category of the movements that function exactly in contrary with the title they carry. </p> <p>Using the modern fascinating terminologies such as democracy, human rights, and women’s rights in the introduction of their activities, the RAWA group carries on its secret activity that is to gain financial benefits from the western countries for their personal and ethnic interests.</p> <p><strong> Based on the evidences, in addition to misuse the financial aids that they receive by the name of Afghan Women, this group functions as the left hand of Taliban as well to promote fundamentalism, racism and superiority of the Pashtoons through ethnic discrimination by which they guarantee their own existence.</strong><br /> </p><div id="attachment_6750" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px;"><a href="http://www.hazarapeople.com/2012/03/15/female-taliban-a-group-called-rawa/payam_1-6d396/" rel="attachment wp-att-6750"><img src="http://www.hazarapeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/payam_1-6d396-e1331808622272.jpg" alt="" title="payam_1-6d396" class="size-full wp-image-6750" height="432" width="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">In this document of Rawa you can read in Pashto language: "for women is a duty to fight the holy war (jihad) against the communists. On the upper left you can see the black flag symbol of fundamentalist jihadist.</p></div><br />The date of establishment of RAWA as an association backs to the acme of the cold war period in the early 1980s, when the Mujahedeen groups were being supported by the west as puppets to defeat the USSR and the role of RAWA was as an anti-puppet against Mujahedeen in case if needed. <p>Comparing the currently military or political groups in Afghanistan, based on its activities the RAWA group parallels the Taliban movement; a Female Taliban Movement. </p> <p>The role so far RAWA group tried to play was pretending to be an idealist group of pure, sincere and revolutionary women who work for the women’s rights, democracy and social justice in Afghanistan but the evidences of their relationship with ISI (Pakistani Intelligence Services) and with the Taliban especially during the years of their sovereignty has revealed their real existence. </p> <p> First of all the most important point is the geographical position RAWA group has chosen for its activities; Quetta. </p> <p>Quetta is the city where most of the destructives conspiracies against Afghanistan are planned there. </p> <p>RAWA group has its main office in Quetta Pakistan a city where there are many Religious Madrasas and then the main Taliban Leadership Compound is located there as well and apparently there is no danger for the RAWA group activists, neither clashes between RAWA group and the Taliban which makes us clearly understand about their relationships, their common goal with different tactics and under different names. </p> <p>The Taliban with an exclusive-structure –only- for the Pashtoons, using the name of religion, follow their ethnic-political goal that is the “state of superiority of the Pashtoons” in Afghanistan and Pakistan while the RAWA group does the same thing but with a different approach. Here we could compare the Taliban and RAWA group based on their activities. </p> <p>The RAWA organizational structure is very exclusive as the Taliban’s therefore it is hard for a non- Pashtoon woman to get a membership. RAWA group uses the name of democracy, human rights, women’s rights and social justice, while in reality applies discrimination in its non-written membership regulations and in their publication against ethnic minorities.</p> <p>The Taliban directly and physically harm the members of minor ethnic or religious groups in Afghanistan while RAWA group makes media propaganda against the minor ethnics and their political leaders to harm them in the media. </p> <p>The Taliban benefits anarchism to rule on people with the power of gun and the money of opium. </p> <p>RAWA group benefits anarchism to create imaginary women champions and heroine figures to get financial funds from the western societies. </p> <p>Using religion the Taliban constantly emphasize on the expulsion of the foreign troops and foreign helpers from Afghanistan while they themselves do not have any alternative proposition for the reconstruction of Afghanistan if the ground is given to them. </p> <p> RAWA group using words such as democracy, women’s rights and social justice issue constantly emphasizes the immediate expulsion of the foreign troops and the foreign helpers of Afghanistan from this country while they themselves do not have any alternative plans for the country. </p> <p> <strong>The Taliban commit suicide bombings and encourage their followers to do the same in order to reach their political goals while RAWA group encourages the women to self-burnings and committing suicides to get their rights. In many cases of women’s self- burnings in provinces of Afghanistan, the self-burners were mostly provoked to self-burning by RAWA group promoters.</strong><br /><a href="http://www.hazarapeople.com/2012/03/15/female-taliban-a-group-called-rawa/somalia-demonstration/" rel="attachment wp-att-6753"><img src="http://www.hazarapeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Female-Jihadists-e1331820468181.jpg" alt="" title="Somalia Demonstration" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6753" height="326" width="480" /></a><br /> In other cases the RAWA group has provoked women in throwing acid on men’s faces in case if their rights were violated. </p> <p>In a country such as Afghanistan where a great percentage of the population is suffering illiteracy, promotion of violence and intolerance among the women is not a constructive way of living in a society. The women need education, brightness and knowledge not promotion of violence and intolerance. </p> <p>The Taliban follow the orders of Pakistani Intelligence Services while RAWA group does the same. </p> <p><strong>The Taliban impose Islamic Hejabs on women while the RAWA group promotes the veils when they go among the women and talk to them.<br /></strong><br />Considering all these facts, if we want to compare the RAWA group in the regional level, they have some common similarities to some extend to The Women of Hezbollah or Hammas but they are not as organized as them; they are extremist, crusty, intolerable and constant on what they do. </p> <p>The harshest part of the facts about RAWA group is the financial corruption and RAWA’s partnership with an international MAFIA of fund-raising using the name of Afghan Women who do not benefit even a cent of it. </p> <p>The RAWA group leaders constantly travel to Europe, Australia, and to the Americas, to give speech about Afghan women and collect money for them, but no body knows what happen to those collected funds.</p> <p>Lately the Afghan government has repeatedly complained about the way the foreign funds are being stolen in Afghanistan which could refer to RAWA group as well as one of such associations. </p> <p><strong>RAWA group activities are not known to people, because they do not have a vast root among the people. </strong></p> <p><strong>If RAWA group is really an association for women’s rights, now that the political ground is open for women in Afghanistan, why it doesn’t sincerely work for women in positive and constructive activities?! May be that way they would not exist anymore. </strong><br /><a href="http://www.hazarapeople.com/2012/03/15/female-taliban-a-group-called-rawa/attachment/427133/" rel="attachment wp-att-6749"><img src="http://www.hazarapeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/427133-e1331806496244.jpg" alt="" title="427133" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6749" height="484" width="480" /></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-82092360558948692222012-02-22T18:04:00.000+04:302012-02-22T18:13:05.410+04:30Peace with the Taliban: is it Tenable?<br />
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<b> By:</b> <a href="http://www.freegizabi.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Akram Gizabi </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_VEFY_KQBUAPBrIPvH-shwBoFjtDOkN_0U3Fj2Azwc6i0A4bBjyY3UgTK7008ZMyZIm8-C29S5tze_pLY1CMxTQN2-Pye1goC9sUI3CUYB-diU1keL7S5ZEKZBL_Gv5IzvVB4A/s1600/Taliban-fighters-in-Afgha-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_VEFY_KQBUAPBrIPvH-shwBoFjtDOkN_0U3Fj2Azwc6i0A4bBjyY3UgTK7008ZMyZIm8-C29S5tze_pLY1CMxTQN2-Pye1goC9sUI3CUYB-diU1keL7S5ZEKZBL_Gv5IzvVB4A/s1600/Taliban-fighters-in-Afgha-007.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><i> </i></span><i>Are the Taliban a terrorist group?<span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;">Given the Taliban and their supporters’ track record, it is
indeed extremely naïve to think that the fundamentalist group and their
backers have been reformed or at the very least mellowed in their views
on Islam and or geo-politics. The Taliban are an ideologically driven
group whose every move is determined by the deviant version of their
religious belief. They live by their beliefs and they die by them
without any remorse for the thousands of innocent lives they take along
with them. They send zealots of all rank and files from foot soldiers to
the supposedly top negotiators who in fact murdered the former head of
the Afghan high peace council Burhanuddin Rabbani, to blow themselves
and their targets up. </span></i></div>
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Is the country that
harbors and nurtures them on the US list of states that sponsor
Terrorism? The answers to both of these questions are obvious and need
not require any elaboration. What does however necessitate scrutiny is
why the Obama administration is so keen to support a rapprochement with
the Taliban as well as their primary sponsor? Moreover, would it not be
logical to talk to the sponsor rather than the sponsored?</div>
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The Taliban have not changed since 911. If anything, they
have become increasingly ruthless and bold in their tactics and
operations as the operations showed in 2011.</div>
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2011 also saw a direct attack on the American embassy in
Kabul. The individual Talibs that attacked the US embassy had last
minute direct contact with its foreign backers who are an
off-again-on-again US ally in the war on terror.</div>
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It is highly premature at this point to not call the
Taliban an enemy. After all if they are not an enemy why does the US
negotiate with them? If the Taliban are not the US adversary as claimed
by US Vice President Joe Biden, then what is the US doing in
Afghanistan? There is no Al Qaeda in the country and the Afghan
government for all its ills is not an adversary of the US. The Afghan
opposition has no grudge against the US in Afghanistan. Why are the US
and NATO spending hundreds of billions of dollars annually in
Afghanistan?</div>
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Given the Taliban and their supporters’ track record, it is
indeed extremely naïve to think that the fundamentalist group and their
backers have been reformed or at the very least mellowed in their views
on Islam and or geo-politics. The Taliban are an ideologically driven
group whose every move is determined by the deviant version of their
religious belief. They live by their beliefs and they die by them
without any remorse for the thousands of innocent lives they take along
with them. They send zealots of all rank and files from foot soldiers to
the supposedly top negotiators who in fact murdered the former head of
the Afghan high peace council Burhanuddin Rabbani, to blow themselves
and their targets up. </div>
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The Taliban are resistant to change. The mere
possibility of considering reform is regarded heretic and therefore
anyone who may espouse or merely consider the idea is liable to death.
Their rigidity is what appeals to thousands of their young aspiring
jihadists.</div>
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Rapprochement with the Taliban is fraught with a lot of
misconceptions. From an Afghan standpoint, approaching the Taliban is
faced with a dichotomy. From the Afghan government’s perspective that is
dominated by Pashtun nationalists, it is desirable because it
reunites the Pashtuns, possibly at the expense of the rest of the
population. President Hamid Karzai has called the Taliban... </div>
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<a href="http://www.freegizabi.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">( Read More here.. ) </a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-20358903237471503682012-02-12T03:12:00.001+04:302012-02-12T03:13:50.891+04:30Prince Harry in Afghanistan: PR dream or logistical nightmare?<div id="main-content-picture"> <img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/2/8/1328721554442/Prince-Harry-in-an-Apache-007.jpg" alt="Prince Harry in an Apache helicopter in California" height="276" width="460" /> <div class="caption">Prince Harry in an Apache helicopter in California. Photograph: Sgt Russ Nolan Rlc/AFP/Getty Images</div> </div> <p>The conclusion of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/prince-harry" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Prince Harry">Prince Harry</a>'s training as a fully qualified Apache pilot gives the army another specialist to fly an attack helicopter, and several headaches about how, where and when to deploy him.</p><p>The prince, or Captain Wales as he is known in the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/military" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Military">military</a>, has consistently made clear he wants to go back to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>, and there is every chance he will return, possibly this year.</p><p>And though it is in some ways a potential PR dream for the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/ministry-of-defence" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Ministry of Defence">Ministry of Defence</a>, those tasked with ensuring he remains away from the spotlight during what will be his second tour may not see it that way.</p><p>Four years ago, all of the UK's major media groups, including the Guardian, agreed not to publicise the prince's deployment to Afghanistan with the Household Cavalry regiment.</p><p>The request was underpinned by fear that drawing attention to his presence would make him, and his colleagues, high priority targets for the Taliban.</p><p>Ten weeks into his tour, the secret was out – in the foreign press, at least.</p><p>Once details started appearing on websites, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/29/afghanistan.monarchy" title="">the MoD withdrew the prince immediately</a>, with the then chief of the defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, arguing the "worldwide media attention … could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier". Read more on <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/09/prince-harry-afghanistan-analysis">the Guardian</a><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-80898376239716230632012-01-12T17:29:00.001+04:302012-02-12T03:14:12.177+04:30Sahar Gul’s Story, A Clear Image of Women’s Life in Afghanistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:white;"><b><span style="color:blue;">By Basir Ahang</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuYpAvtCSecXO6UHVJDwLpH1Jd4gg2NbpAIPRpy6E1IZoRgYyf81JrotO9HE1rLzT536rcEHtDt48ClEJ8KpNj_RY2eQAgzacX4UTpLZJhoBfOXbY2OZyXmp5lknkBE6MzgDhJQ/s1600/1326099093011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div face="'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif" size="13px" color="white" style="text-align: justify;"> photo source: thedailybeast.com</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">On December 27th, 2011, 15 year old Sahar Gul was discovered imprisoned in her in-law’s musty, dark cellar by the Baghlan Province Police. Seven months earlier, while living in Badakhshan Province, Sahar had been forced into marriage. The police report stated the young girl had been imprisoned, tortured and violently beaten by the husband and his family because she refused to work and earn money as a prostitute.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Sahar was in critical condition when she arrived to a hospital in Polikhomri. The doctors reported she had multiple injuries from the abuse, including a broken shoulder and head trauma. Her torture included someone pulling her fingernails out.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">After stabilization, Sahar was transferred to a hospital in Kabul. Soraya Dalil, Supervisor of the Ministry of Health, told journalists that Sahar Gul’s physical condition should improve in several months, but the consequences of negative psychological shocks may remain throughout her lifetime.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Sahar Gul’s story is only one of the thousands of stories of torture and cruel abuse currently experienced daily by Afghanistan women. Whether defamation or traditional conservativeness, most of these women’s stories will continue to remain untold. Seeking justice for their suffering would only expose them; leaving minimal chances for survival after retaliation from the abuser.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">What happened to fifteen year old Sahar Gul, her forced marriage, torture and abuse, is a clear example of violation of women’s rights in Afghanistan. Despite the president of the country visiting Sahar in the hospital and ordering the abusive family to be prosecuted, these cases have appeared thousands of times before only to find the violators have gone unpunished.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">This violence against Sahar Gul has been vastly reported by media and human rights activists. Once again, the concern for women’s rights in Afghanistan is being voiced louder than ever. When will violators be prosecuted and imprisoned as punishment for their crimes against women?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Last month, the office of UNAMA (United Nations Assisted Mission in Afghanistan) in Kabul criticized the Afghan government for limited application of the "Elimination of Violence Against Women Law“. Based on a UNAMA report, of the 2,299 reported cases of violence against women recorded between March 2010 and June 2011, only 26 cases were processed. Also in this report, only 7% of violators were condemned to punishment by the Afghan courts.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Enacted in 2009, this "Elimination of Violence Against Women Law" forbids more than twenty types of violence against women, including underage marriages, forced marriages, forced suicide and forbids any exchange of a female to resolve a dispute. Rape and physical attacks on women are also considered crimes for sentencing.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">Afghanistan Human Rights Commission states there were 1,026 reported cases of violence against women in the first six months of 2011. In most cases, the women are very afraid to file a complaint, stating there is a considerable chance they will be punished severely for doing so. Another 2011 report by OXFOM, shows 87% of Afghanistan women have experienced physical violence including physical and sexual harassment or forced marriage.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color:blue;"><a href="http://kabulpress.org/my/spip.php?article94563" target="_blank">Read Full Story On Kabulpress</a></span></b> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Luxi sans','Lucida Grande',Lucida,'Lucida Sans Unicode',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>basir ahanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08100500886602500345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27185464.post-44757715443510659612012-01-11T15:19:00.000+04:302012-01-11T15:19:15.792+04:30Snow in Kabul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img alt="Kabul winter" class="size-medium wp-image-107 " data-mce-src="http://writingwithdesire.edublogs.org/files/2012/01/The-same-pictures-but-a-new-copy-for-JZ-162-ptmlk2-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="http://writingwithdesire.edublogs.org/files/2012/01/The-same-pictures-but-a-new-copy-for-JZ-162-ptmlk2-300x225.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Kabul winter" width="300" /></dt>
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It is really cold out their. All the mountains and hills were covered with full snow. And it was really I mean extremely cold. It is still cold but the snow is all melted now. Because of the sun. Although I love snow but one thing hate and don't like about it is in Kabul it is the best that it should not snow. Because there is different things that is problem in Kabul with snow. I will tell you:</div>
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1/ There is going to a lot of mud in Kabul streets</div>
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2/ For poor people there is not going to be enough wood to burn to get warm</div>
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3/ Mud houses are going to collapse due to too much snow</div>
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4/ Flood!</div>
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See there will be a lot of trouble for most of the people. But again nothing can beat up snow beauty. It is really beautiful and amazing. People tell stories about snow in the past that was in Kabul. Most of them say that decades ago their was a lot of snow and rain in winter season. They say that it was reaching like half a meter in a way. To say this technically I don't know what is the reason for this? Because they say amount of snow have changed from the past till yet. It may be Global Warming. It might be because of Climate Change.</div>
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All in all I always want the Kabul city to be white. With snow. For some people snow might bring them depression and sadness kind of...But for some people it is awesome and beautiful.</div>
</div>Akidwithgreatambition(Esmat Zeerak)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08325635675580901698noreply@blogger.com0