Inavaders or Peackeepers? What are the citizens’ thoughts on the ongoing NATO-mission? Two consultants, Asadullah Mauj and Bahadar Hellali, provided an insight into the thoughts and feelings of the NATO presence in the view of the Afghans.
After a long day of listening to presentations and discussions, the forum gathered once more in the “Magna Aula Sorica” to discuss the perceptions of the Afghans towards NATO’s presence in the country. You might expect the participants to be more tired than they actually seemed to be. Perhaps the superb Italian coffee also helped out.
“Decisions are made by people. People are decision makers!” Asadullah Mauj, the external assistant director of AIESEC as well as the deputy director of Kabul Engineering Technical NGO stated. According to the perception of Afghanistan’s inhabitants it is up to NATO actors to confirm the Afghans opinion.
To find out the populations attitude towards NATO presence Mauj interviewed Afghan students and National Assembly members. Critics may lay in on this qualitative study that those unique statements does not regard the Afghan peoples point of view since the requested persons are mostly inhabitants from the city of Kabul. The voices of provincials are thereby unheard. This survey does how ever give a first glance of selected Afghans present thoughts on their situation.
According to the survey the respondents are aware of both positive and negative influences of the NATO presence. They all acknowledged the consisting peace and the prevention of a reoccurence of the civil war, as well as they helped the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in their work for social and economical development. The ongoing NATO-mission in Afghanistan is seen as essential to keep the security in the country and helps to keep out influences from the neighbouring countries.
On the other hand the respondents think that the NATO does not see Afghanistan from the inhabitants point of view since they don´t consider the culture in the region. In addition the Afghans have become more and more sensitive for civil casualties caused by bombardements. For them it is unacceptable that women and children die during air raids. NATO soldiers are therefore increasingly seen as invaders and this might lead to an expansion of the Taliban fraction.
Bahadar Hellali, former IT officer for the ministry of foreign affairs and currently an ICT specialist for the Ministry of Education in Kabul sees the positive achievements of the NATO presence. He acknowledges the stabilization process, the peace building and higher security that NATO has helped to achieve. The female afghan participants also praised the present development in the life of all women although there are still difficulties in the provinces. A higher number of schools and more female teacher and politicians as role models could help to improve this process. Still many Afghans view NATO troops as invaders. There is a defective coordination between NATO, the afghan government and the tribal Elders. There is also a lack of information to the citizens and many feel hurt and don’t understand why NATO-soldiers are allowed to go into their houses without permission from the Supreme Court. To keep strengthening the ongoing process of securing the country NATO should communicate their achievements to people who are unaware of their activities. The afghan army and police should be allowed to assume the leadership over military operations which would increase the people’s trust for the government. Also a better cooperation with the tribal leaders who are still eminently respected in the population should be obtained. NATO can still play a leading role in the development of the country. The Afghans wishes for more long term activates in regard to culture and religion to be able to help themselves lead their country to a better future.
