By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
At least five people were killed by the firing of the US Army, who is controlling the airport and in charge of all operations at the Kabul airport. Another three persons died, as they were hiding with the wings and tires of the aircraft before it took off. Kabul airport is overcrowded and people seem desperate for leaving Afghanistan. Mant countries canceled or halted flight operations temporarily. Only military airplanes are operating, no service to civilians.
Taliban leadership has granted a general amnesty and declared that the life, property, assets, and respect and dignity of each citizen will be ensured and protected. Orders have been issued to field commanders to obey these instructions and citizens are requested to report to Government in case of any non-compliance, Whatsapp numbers have been announced for public convenience. Regarding the International community, including the diplomatic community and UN personnel, the Taliban has ensured their safety and protection. No embassy or UN office was attacked. Many embassies and UN offices are functioning properly. However, few countries have pulled their diplomatic staff and closed or limited their functions.
The news in Western media were making foreigners confused and leading toward leaving Afghanistan. Thousands of local Afghans, employed by the US embassy or NATO forces, were promised to take them to the US, but at the last moment, the US betrayed them, once they reached the airport for evacuation. The desperate employees are in panic and are attempting to board a flight by any means, which resulted in a huge mess and the US army has opened fire. Few were killed by direct bullets while the remaining were stamped and died.
Although the whole country is smooth and calm, the shops are opened, factories are working, restaurants are serving, women are going to jobs, girls are going to schools in a routine. Mobile phone and internet service are functioning appropriately. Life seems very much normal, nothing change, except President Ashraf Ghani has fled and the Taliban took over the Presidential Palace.
People from various cities including Kabul, Jala Abad, Gandhar, etc are reporting a smooth and routine life. All government offices and bureaucracy are fully functional. TV stations and Radio stations are under Taliban control and broadcasting regularly.
The transition of power from Ashraf Ghani to Taliban was much more smooth and so that the presidential transition of power in Washington.
The Western media are portraiting a Taliban’s negative image, creating panic, terror, and confusion about Afghanistan. As result people are gathering at the airport to escape from Afghanistan. Although there was no single cause of harassment of any individual, either Afghan national or foreigner by the Taliban.
The conquered Kabul, without firing a single bullet, without killing a single human being, without injuring a single person, without arresting a single person, without harassing a single human being. They are peace-loving people and more respectful to humankind. They have pardoned everyone and declared not to punish anyone. But requested the general public to cooperate with them in the reconstruction of war-torn Afghanistan. Taliban has declared its foreign policy as friendly with all nations, including the US. Taliban are broadminded and open people and the international community has recognized it from their behavior.
The US has recognized the Taliban as the real power in Afghanistan and a true representative of Afghanistan. That is why they negotiated a peace deal with them and signed a peace accord with them. The US ignored the Government of Ashraf Ghani totally as they know he is a puppet merely and not representing the Afghan people. He never looked after Afghan interests, his focus was on corruption and personal gains only. Many countries have shown consent to work with the Taliban closely. There are more than a hundred countries, who will recognize Taliban rule officially in the next few days. The US has been also informally working with the Taliban closely.
The US has accepted its failure and President Joe Biden has acknowledged his miscalculations. It is time for the US to offer for war crimes and war compensation. The UNSC may initiate such motions, the sooner the better. Afghanistan needs to be reconstructed and those who destroyed Afghanistan have a moral obligation to contribute to rebuilding Afghanistan.
Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan – Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
(This is an opinion article. The views expressed belong only to the author and the publication of the article does not necessarily imply the endorsement of its content by World Geostrategic Insights).
Image credit: Rahmat Gul/AP