Afghan Security Forces Do Not Let Afghans Be in Peace

Writer: Basir Bita

According to state authorities, 16 to 18 November are the days for Luye Jerge Ananawi – literary means “Traditional Gathering”. Luye Jerga is a gathering ceremony in which representatives of people from different ethnic groups come together making decision about big political phenomena.

The name of Luye Jerga dates back Abdul Rahman Khan era, the first king who changed the name of Afghanistan from Khurasan to its current name. When he wanted to crown, first he invited deans from his ethnic group – Pashtun – and asked them to give approval to his kingdom and accept him as a king. Since then, a few kings established a Luye Jerga Ananawi to impose their personal decisions to the people under their sovereign. Now Hamid Karzai, the first Afghan president after disintegration of Taliban, is going to build it for the fifth time in the history of Afghanistan and apex his name within Afghanistan’s new political chapter.

In these days, Police and security forces are all in Kabul streets particularly in the streets and lanes in vicinity to Luye Jerga Tent. There are security forces and polices patrolling the people. You can see even checkpoints near to Luye Jerga Tent. Moreover, disguised individuals from intelligent services are placed in Kabul.

But such heavy security strategy has intimidated local people settled around Luye Jerga Tent. Some say that such heavy security protection is not only a factor that makes a heavy traffic in recent days, but it frustrates them and mismanage their routine life.

Abuld Ahad, resident of Afshar Hill next to Luye Jerga Tent, says:” the residents of here have been census to, but what they want to do it for? What are they doing with it?”

Intercontinental Hotel, one of the most important, and the oldest internationally appreciated hotels in Afghanistan, and that was targeted by a group of suicide attackers three months ago, is located very close to Luye Jerga Tent. Some local residents claim that security forces get in their houses without pre-alarm asking them their names and their identities.

According to local residents, flying military helicopters over their heads and houses have disordered their minds. Zahra Ahmadi, a student in Talim O Tarbia University – which is located near to Luye Jergar Tent – says:” today, whenI entered the university I encountered with military forces. It made me frustrated thinking what would happen next.”

Mirza Mohammad who came in Afshar to meet his brother’s family says that there was no way for him to drive; he had to arrive in his brother’s through lanes.

Some people say that they cannot arrive in their offices on the time; no matter they are employees of state or non-state organizations. They say that their job position might be jeopardized.

Authorities in Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs which is in charge of official holidays told that they have not still finalized what days would be off because it is President’s task to make final decision.

Where the Luye Jerga is going to be happened a consultation gathering held three months ago and four months ago, Intercontinental Hotel was targeted by RPJ.

NATO in Afghanistan - ISAF fighting insurgents in Kabul

Video of ISAF soldiers inside ISAF Headquarters - Kabul, Afghanistan fighting back against an attack on the US Embassy compound and ISAF HQ - 13th September 2011

Afghan Air Force and Coalition Forces respond to Attack in Kabul

Iranian scholarship for Afghans

Iranian government has announced a number of scholarships for Afghan students who are seeking higher education. For more information please go to our Farsi section or click on this link to check out the main source.

Something Shocking: Taliban as American Translators

As you may know, American troops and perhaps American intelligence services in Afghanistan often need Afghan translators who are fluent in both the Farsi and Pashto languages. There is constant advertising on Afghan TV channels that translators can earn as much as $220,000 per year.

What you may not know is that they don't require you to be a qualified translator! In fact, I know of people who were hired that were not even fluent in either one of those languages, and their command of English is worse than mine. I find this to be terribly unfair to all of our service men and women in Afghanistan. After all, how much do our fighting soldiers actually earn? Likely it is a fraction of what those translators make.

To add to the inequality of pay to service, the translators end up working in the safety of our bases in Kabul and elsewhere, whereas our troops are always in harm's way, fighting on the dangerous and deadly front lines throughout the mountains and fields of Afghanistan. Why do we hire thousands of unqualified individuals and shower them with that kind of money? There are thousands of Afghans living in Afghanistan that are fluent in English and who would be more than happy to support our cause and work with us for a fraction of that money. Even in America there are thousands of Afghans that could work for $5000 a month. However, the way that we appropriate the translator salary is only a small part of the concern.

What worries me the most is that we are not even careful about the background and the connections of the people we hire. For example, in the Seattle Afghan community, several people were hired that are well known pro-Taliban and are also members of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's extremist organization. When they talk with each other, they joke about how they are getting paid by the "infidels" while they are at the very same time simply helping their "Muslim brothers"—that would be the Taliban—when they are at work in Afghanistan! The fact that we are unable to identify these enemies is not as shocking as the fact that even when we know who they are we fail to take any measures to stop them.

Just before 9/11, three or four American women were captured by the Taliban in Kabul. They were charged with promoting Christianity and converting Muslims. This is a grave charge in any Islamic country, but that was especially true in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban and Bin Laden, where it was punishable by death. I recall feeling absolutely terrible when I heard of these arrests. I felt guilty for being an Afghan living in America, along with tens of thousands of other Afghans, all enjoying America's freedoms, without worry and without fear of persecution, yet none of us were doing anything significant to help or support the helpless Afghan people back home. In stark contrast, these American women had left their beautiful lives in America for Kabul to feed thousands of orphans; orphans which I might add were created by our Muslim Taliban brothers.

In Seattle during that time there was a small group of Afghans who allied themselves with, and sent aid to, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one of the worst extremist leaders in all of Afghanistan, responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent Afghans. At that time, the American system was much more liberal with respect to extremist ideologies, and therefore this group was operating freely and openly. Every two or three months this nefarious group would circulate a propaganda pamphlet among the greater Seattle Afghan community. That ugly pamphlet consisted mostly of news or messages from their killer leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Just before 9/11, they disseminated one of these propagandist pamphlets, which I'm happy to say was their very last one. However, it contained the story about those women missionaries arrested in Afghanistan, and it claimed to be giving us the "good news" that these "evil" Zionists missionaries were caught by the Taliban. Further, this Seattle-based extremist group called for the execution of these women to make an example of them, and argued to promote the idea that the Taliban should chase down and capture more "Zionists" and put them to immediate death as well.

A few years ago I found out that one of the two people who were acting as leaders of this group in Seattle had been hired as a translator by our army and was working with them in Kabul. Recently I also found out that the second leader of this group was also hired as a translator and is now imbedded with our troops in Afghanistan. We are paying each of these people hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money each year, and we have every reason to believe that they may be doing more to protect the Taliban than our own troops. This is utterly shocking to me! Needless to say, I was determined not to be quiet about it, and I have made many complaints to whatever authorities I could possibly contact. I even sent a letter to the recruiting company that had supposedly completed background checks on these two individuals. In response, a lawsuit was filed against me.

- Article by Shafie Ayar, Author of Afghan Hearts & Minds

Precarious Position of Afghan National Army Calls for Patience on All Military Sides

There is no doubt that the Afghan National Army is at a precarious position. Though they can pride themselves on many positive factors, it it still left to be said that there is widespread drug-use among the ranks, illiteracy inhibits their competency, and unresolved tribal tribulations continue to flair up. But what else can you ask for? Afghanistan's history cannot change in a year, or even a few years. Patience is the most important thing to value in this war. Patience for all military sides. 

Lack of Opportunity for the Best Afghan Athletes

Sometimes heroes don't get the backing they need to fulfill their goals - and ultimately, their potential. Boxer Mustafa Qasemi is one of Afghanistan's top-ranked athletes, but he is not considered by the Afghan Olympic council because of his lack of sponsorship.

Many boxers in Afghanistan move on to the Olympic national team who are of much lesser skill than Mustafa, as they enough money to enter the care of the council. Afghanistan's honor can not be complete without athletes like Mustafa being able to compete at the skill-level they deserve to contend in.

Training on Post-Graduate University Application

This six-day practical training is designed to provide an insight into the post-graduate study, primarily, in Europe and America. The training aim is to familiarize the participants with the process of a university application, from surveying the university market, to selecting a course degree, to filling in an online application and to applying for scholarships.

By the end of this practical workshop, participants should be able to understand thoroughly the process of a university application, find scholarships and prepare their own supporting materials (i.e., personal statement, academic references, and CV). This training applies to those wanting to pursue a taught degree and those wanting to make an application for a research (PhD) degree.

For both Taught and Research Applicants

An Introduction:

·         Introduction

·         Training outline

·         Course selection

·         University selection

Making an Application:

1)       Supporting Documents

·         A supporting statement

·         Academic references

·         English language proficiency

·         Proof of your undergraduate degree

·         CV

·         GRE/GMAT

2)       Making an online application/ Practice session

Scholarships:

·         Scholarship types

·         How/when to apply for a scholarship?

·         Interview preparations

For Research Applicants Only

All research applicants in addition to the above need to provide a research proposal in their applications. The following elements of a research proposal will be discussed and practically exercised during the training.

·         Rationale (Problem/ Literature Gap)

·         Aims and Objectives

·         Literature Review

·         Research Questions

·         Research Hypothesis

·         Research Methodology

·         Bibliography

Application Requirement:

·         Obtained a BA degree or in their last year of BA study

·         Proficiency in English language

Starting Date: 9th July, 2011

Duration: Two Weeks (Sundays, Tuesdays ,Thursdays)

Class Hours:  05:00 – 07:00 P.M

Fee:  2000 Afs Only

TIMOR SHARAN is a PhD candidate in the Department of Politics and International Relations at University of Exeter. His research is on the political economy of network politics in post-2001 Afghanistan. He holds an MPhil degree in Development Studies from University of Cambridge and a BA degree in International Relations and Politics from University of Essex. He is a founding member of the United Kingdom Afghanistan Studies Group (www.ukasg.org) and a founding member of Afghanistan Intellectual Property Rights Association.

His Forthcoming Publications Are:

F  “The Dynamics of Elite Networks and Patron-Client Relations in Post-Bonn Afghanistan”, (Europe-Asia Studies Journal, August 2011, Vol 63, No 6)

F   “Identity Politics and State Building in Post-Bonn Afghanistan: The 2009 Presidential Election” co-authored with John Heathershaw (Ethno politics, September 2011, Vo 4)

Mobile: 0793705320; 0795121748;

Emails: p.ibrahimi@ach.af ; y.entezar@ach.af

Website: www.ach.af

Address: House # 582; Behind Kateb University, Shora Road, Karte 3, Kabul- Afghanistan

Be the First to register; 30 Seats Only!

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply! 

Source: www.flyingdinasour.wordpress.com