INSIDE AFGHANISTAN

October 2001
		Afghanistan after the Taliban: Two experts responded to your questions.

Forum introduction Would a Western-style democracy be best for Afghanistan? How do we prevent a repetition of the power vacuum after the Soviets left? Would a new Afghan government commit to freedom of religion? What is happening to commerce in Afghanistan? What do we know about the Northern Alliance? How can we endure the voices of women will be heard? Is there a feasible solution for a multi-ethnic Afghan state?     Online Special: The Response Online Special: Afghanistan Sept. 28, 2001: Two experts discuss the battle between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. Sept. 20, 2001: A look at Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.

Tom Shetler of Bloomington, Minnesota asks: How do we prevent a repetition of the battle for power in Afghanistan that took place after the Soviets left? And what prevents surrounding nations such as Pakistan, Iran, and even Russia from seeking some form of control over how this government is formed? Patricia Gossman responds: It appears that U.S. policy makers and others are increasingly aware of the dangers of moving ahead with the military campaign before there is agreement on an acceptable political arrangement to follow. Two things would be critical to making sure that former warlords do not again seize power. There should be greater emphasis to the political process so that a broad range of Afghans, including many with local legitimacy (i.e. not just exiled Afghans and warlords) would be represented, and the international community should immediately support a mechanism (such as a tribunal) for investigating and prosecuting war crimes. Anyone indicted for war crimes would be ineligible to participate in the new administration. Obviously all of Afghanistan’s neighbors will continue to use their influence. The best way to ensure that that influence is constructive is to create incentives (through reconstruction of the country) to draw people away from the war economy and toward building trade links and other constructive regional ties. Pakistan’s economy (which is very fragile) could benefit enormously from greater access to the Central Asian states, as would they.   Thomas Gouttierre responds: I think what we have to do for sure is understand that, after the Soviets left, basically there was a vacuum in place in Afghanistan in terms of real leadership, and that vacuum in large measure was created by the lack of any real serious reconstruction process. What we need to do as a nation is to be sure that we are not just getting involved, but taking the lead role now in helping the Afghans to reconstruct their country. And that's the best way for us to help prevent surrounding nations from getting involved in such a way that normally might feel they could, were there this vacuum. We could invite them to help in the process itself. But we need to take a leading role.