Afghan Warrior

As an Afghan I support the US and coalition forces presence in Afghanistan. In the current situation, the US presence is really important for peace and stability. Like me, most Afghan people support the US presence, even though Afghan people have always been against foreign forces and occupiers. But they know that the US and coalition forces are here to help Afghanistan and the Afghan people and they are not here to occupy our country.? After the 1992 civil war between various factions of the Mujahideen, and during the Taliban regime, thousands of people lost their lives. The situation was really bad. Millions of Afghans emigrated to different foreign countries in the world. Our teachers, officers became street vendors. More than 50% of Afghan students were away from their education and they were working to support their families. Personally, I was away from school for 4 years while I was in Pakistan. After the 11 September tragedy, the US-led invasion finally liberated Afghanistan from the Taliban regime and Afghanistan has achieved remarkable progress and success since the fall of the Taliban. As a result, the Bonn agreement, the Loya jirga, presidential election, and establishing a democratic government having a new National Army, new National police, new Afghan currency are the achievements that Afghanistan has made in the last three years. More than 3 millions Afghan refugees have returned home and the repatriation process has continued. As of March 2005, more than Sixty thousand Afghan refugees have returned to their country and they feel really good to return to their country after beign far from their homeland. Most refugees that returned were homeless during the civil war and Taliban regime. They sold their properties for very cheap prices because the situation was very horrible and they needed money to get out of the country. During their emigration they spent their money and now its impossible for them to buy a house because the prices are 10 times higher than they sold at during the war. So most returnees are suffering without proper shelter. The main problem is shelter for the returnees. Some other refugees who didn't sell their properties are enjoying their life. Most educated returnees got good jobs in government and foreign organizations and they are much better off than before. Generally all returnees are happy to return back even if they live in tents. Most of them say living under tents in our own country is better then living in a modern house in others' country
. As an interpreter, I have been working with the US Army for the last two years and I have been on many patrols, and during the patrols we talk with the locals about their problems and they look very happy when they see us. Almost all villagers invite us for tea and a meal. Afghan people are the most hospitable. Even if people are poor, they still share everything they have and try to serve their guests as best as they can. our patrols have been always welcomed by locals. one of the best patrol was to a new refugee camp. This refugee camp was not in our patrol area before and they had returned from Pakistan. There were more than 50 tents. We went there and talked with some people in this new camp they told us about their problems. It was the beginning of winter and they needed tents, blankets, food and medicine. Our patrol leader wrote down about their problems and after 12 days we went with a few trucks full of food, blankets and tents and we also took some doctors to examine their kids and patients. Almost every one of them were looking really happy that they got everything they needed for the winter and they spent a good winter without problems. Every two weeks we would ask if they needed anything else. The only thing they were asking for was shelter and we couldn't provide it because it's up to the Afghan government to issue land to these returnees. I think it was one of the best patrols which was received very well by the people. I have talked with some of my friends - some locals and ANA soldiers and officers, and almost every one told me that the US and coalition presence is very important. If they leave us alone the terrorists will grow up again, so they should be with us until the ANA (Afghan National Army) formation completes and is capable of protecting Afghanistan. If the US and coalition forces leave Afghanistan, the terrorists and warlords will cause a big problem for the central government. People fear that if the US and coalition forces leave Afghanistan, the neighboring countries will interfere like they did during the civil war, and Afghanistan will be destabilized again. So they should stay till we have a strong national army and national police and are capable of protecting Afghanistan. Our police force is more than 50,000 strong, plus there are special forces who conduct counter-narcotics operations and our new Afghan National Army currently has around 32,000 troops. With the help of the US Army it is improving well and taking the responsibilty for supporting security across the country.
After the parliamentry elections on September 18, it is up to parliament to decide about permanent US bases. I can't say now if Afghan people support permanent bases or not. Time will tell. But most people want the US to stay for at least 5 more years. The government is accelerating the disarmament process and disarming both the regular armed forces and illegal armed groups. More than sixty one thousand former militia have been disarmed and over 95% of the heavy weaponry has been collected. After the first historic presidential elections, Afghanistan has entered into a new phase of its history which is democracy, rule of law, supremacy of constitution, unity, and brotherhood. The people are feeling free - we have an enlightened and progressive constitution, which safeguards human rights, and guarantees the equality of women and men. Afghan women have achieved much more than before, but it still takes time. There are some areas where women are still locked inside their houses, but in some big cities like Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat, they have a bit more freedom. There are driving courses for women where they learn how to drive and I have seen some women driving in downtown Kabul and Herat city. There is a big garden especially for women in Kabul city where they go for picnics, and there is a shopping center in the garden where women sell handicrafts and cosmetics. Many women have jobs at different government and non government organizations. They are not forced to wear burkas. There are some weekly and monthly magazines for women where women can express their opinions and these magazines give a lot of useful information for Afghan women. Free press has enjoyed great development and success as demonstrated by the publication of more than 300 independent papers, more than 30 radio stations, and 5 independent TV stations. For the first time in Afghanistan, the investment conditions for foreign investors is suitable. There are some foreign companies that have invested hundreds of millions of dollars and certain industries such as the hospitality sector, banks and mobile communications have particulary benefited. The wages of civil servants have increased. Almost four million kids returned to school this year. We appreciate the United States for its generous economic support that we have received over the last three years. Without US and other friendly countries, Afghanistan would never have accomplished what we have over the past three years. We also need the United States and United Nation for their multi-year pledges of aid to support our efforts at rebuilding our country. People are hoping that the US and world community will not abandon Afghanistan. Afghanistan wants good relationships with the United States of America and other countries in the world.