• Latest
  • Trending

It is too much to expect Afghanistan to practice Western-style democracy

October 3, 2019
Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Sangga Rima Roman Selia / Unsplash

Global CO2 emissions bounce back to pre-COVID levels, study finds

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Tasnim News Agency; Mohammad Hassanzadeh

Iran’s only female Olympic medallist to compete under white flag in Tokyo

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Dan Freeman / Unsplash

Australian economy storms ahead as COVID recovery turns ‘V-shaped’

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Hassan Ali @RealHa55an / Twitter

Cricket kind of gets forgotten in IPL; PSL, LPL more rewarding: Dale Steyn

March 3, 2021
Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults

March 3, 2021
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan government to go ahead with Iranaitivu Island for COVID-19 deceased burials

March 3, 2021
Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

March 2, 2021
Image credits - DNA

Jack Ma loses title as China’s richest man after coming under Beijing’s scrutiny

March 2, 2021
Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

March 3, 2021
A conversation with Bertrand Russell (1952)

A conversation with Bertrand Russell (1952)

March 2, 2021
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lankan government to go ahead with Iranaitivu Island for COVID-19 deceased burials

    Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

    Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

    Lankan government chooses Iranaitivu island to bury COVID-19 dead

    Lankan government chooses Iranaitivu island to bury COVID-19 dead

    Image credits - Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

    Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    Image credits - Instagram: ICC

    Virat Kohli joins Ronaldo, Messi in an elite list, becomes 1st cricketer with 100 million Instagram followers

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Sangga Rima Roman Selia / Unsplash

    Global CO2 emissions bounce back to pre-COVID levels, study finds

    Image credits - Tasnim News Agency; Mohammad Hassanzadeh

    Iran’s only female Olympic medallist to compete under white flag in Tokyo

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Dan Freeman / Unsplash

    Australian economy storms ahead as COVID recovery turns ‘V-shaped’

    Image credits - Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

    Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    Fauci urges Americans to get any of the three COVID-19 vaccines available

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi: US intelligence report

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Image credits - Joe Shlabotnik / Flickr

    Key winners at the 2021 Golden Globes

    Image credits - Gage Skidmore

    Chadwick Boseman Wins Best Actor at 2021 Golden Globes for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Hakan Nural / Unsplash

    New data show vaccines reduce severe COVID-19 in older adults

    COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

    Sri Lankan government to go ahead with Iranaitivu Island for COVID-19 deceased burials

    Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

    Hope India votes in favour of Sri Lanka at UNHRC: Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage

    Lankan government chooses Iranaitivu island to bury COVID-19 dead

    Lankan government chooses Iranaitivu island to bury COVID-19 dead

    Image credits - Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

    Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    Image credits - Instagram: ICC

    Virat Kohli joins Ronaldo, Messi in an elite list, becomes 1st cricketer with 100 million Instagram followers

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
    Image credits - Sangga Rima Roman Selia / Unsplash

    Global CO2 emissions bounce back to pre-COVID levels, study finds

    Image credits - Tasnim News Agency; Mohammad Hassanzadeh

    Iran’s only female Olympic medallist to compete under white flag in Tokyo

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Dan Freeman / Unsplash

    Australian economy storms ahead as COVID recovery turns ‘V-shaped’

    Image credits - Mufid Majnun / Unsplash

    Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Torstensimon

    Fauci urges Americans to get any of the three COVID-19 vaccines available

    Image credits - Joshua Sukoff / Unsplash

    Saudi crown prince approved operation to capture or kill Khashoggi: US intelligence report

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Image credits - Joe Shlabotnik / Flickr

    Key winners at the 2021 Golden Globes

    Image credits - Gage Skidmore

    Chadwick Boseman Wins Best Actor at 2021 Golden Globes for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

    The film, a tale of an adolescent boy fighting human-eating demons, has amassed $313 million since opening on Oct. 16. © Koyoharu Gotoge/Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

    Japan anime movie ‘Demon Slayer’ lands in US cinemas

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Bengali Adhunik song Bela Hole Absan

    Image credits - Steven Cordes / Unsplash

    Gotta catch ’em all: Pandemic sends prices soaring for Pokemon cards

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - AdamBMorgan / big-ashb

    Grammy-winning duo Daft Punk announces split after 28 years

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

    Nollywood meets Bollywood in love tale ‘Namaste Wahala’

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

    Image credits - Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash

    Maezawa wants you: Japan billionaire seeks ‘crew’ for moon trip

    Image credits - Mark Paton / Unsplash

    One in four people will have hearing problems by 2050: WHO

    Disciplined societies may have tackled COVID better, but there is a downside in all

    China, U.S. should lift COVID-19 travel bans if herd immunity reached, Chinese epidemiologist says

    Image credits - Slash Gear

    Nestle expands plant-based products with new vegan KitKat bar

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    India-made COVID-19 vaccine in Ghana

    Image credits - Stefan Spassov / Unsplash

    Japan appoints ‘minister of loneliness’ to help people home alone

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia. Image credits - CDC

    First human case of H5N8 bird flu reported in Russia

    Image credits - LupEnd007 / rodrigoferrari

    Kim Kardashian files for divorce from Kanye West

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Image credits - Benjamin Raffetseder / Unsplash

    China’s Xiaomi adds manufacturing muscle in India to boost phone production

    Image credits - freestocks / Unsplash

    Singapore trials Smartphone app offering mini check-ups

    Image credits - Fixelgraphy / Unsplash

    Spotify to expand into more than 80 new markets including Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives

    Image credits - Nicole de Andrade

    Tech Tips: Signal lets users create groups with up to 1000 members, here is how to create one

    Whatsapp / Pic - India Today

    WhatsApp to switch off messages for all who reject new terms

    Image credits - Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

    Facebook news goes dark in Australia as content spat escalates

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Around South Asia Afghanistan

It is too much to expect Afghanistan to practice Western-style democracy

Editor by Editor
October 3, 2019
in Afghanistan, Politics, Recommend
Reading Time: 4min read
2 0
Share on WhatsApp

By P.K.Balachandran/Daily Express

Amidst an on-going war against the Taliban, against the background of suspended US-Taliban talks, and in the context of widespread allegations of fraud, a Presidential election has was held in Afghanistan late last week.

The overall population of Afghanistan is estimated to be between 30 to 35 million people, of whom 16 million are eligible to vote. The Independent Election Commission said that it had  registered over nine million voters, but from current estimates, less than two million people voted. The principal contestants are incumbent President Ashraf Ghani and his Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

While the US State Department has hailed the election as a victory of democracy over terrorism, most common Afghans wonder if the exercise was worth it, given the fact that so far, “democracy” has brought neither peace nor development nor a corruption-free and equalitarian government to the country.

In Afghanistan, as in other South Asian countries, democratic institutions do not work on the concept of “a common citizenship” but on primordial loyalties to social groupings based on ethnicity, language, and religion, apart from kinship and tribalism.

Rules are bent to accommodate these loyalties and commitments making a mockery of the modern Western concept of common “citizenship”, equality before law and the Rule of Law. Democratic institutions do exist with all their ceremonial and formal trappings, but these are mere shells with the inside nothing like what one would expect to find in a Western-style democracy.

This is why there is disillusionment in the voting population. “We voted five years ago despite security threats, but it did not work,” an agency quoted Sami Sultani, a resident of Kabul, as saying.

“We participated but again we saw fraud,” said Hamid, a resident of Kabul.

“Technical problems are first, then there is mistrust among the people, and then the security threats: these are among the key factors that prevented people from coming out in large numbers,” said Yousuf Rashid, head of the Free and Fair Election Forum of Afghanistan (FEFA).

Giving the disillusionment with democracy, the voting percentage has been coming down steeply. It was 70% in 2004 and is only down to two million out of nine million.

According to Afghan commentator Mohammad Zahir Akbari, Afghanistan has seen many political systems from democracy to monarchy to communist autocracy to Talibanism. But none succeeded in bringing peace, stability, orderly progress and good governance.

The reasons are partly internal dysfunctions as well as foreign interference.

World powers, whether they were the colonial British, Tsarist  Russia, the Soviet Union or the US, have not allowed Afghans to live in peace because of the area’s strategic importance. Countries like Pakistan and India have also developed strategic stakes in Afghanistan and have either been drafted by other powers or are acting on their own. The latest to throw the hat into the ring is China.

According to Akbari, the Afghans took to democracy with enthusiasm after the oppressive Taliban was overthrown. They  saw democracy as a panacea and as a way of ending destructive conflicts and social and tribal dissensions. But over time, democracy has proved to be vacuous.

“Questions are raised whether the soil of Afghanistan is conducive to the tree of democracy or it has not been planted properly? What are the differences between Afghan democracy and other democracies in the world, especially democracy in  post-conflict countries which have produced wonderful results?” Akbari asks.

The main feature of the democratic system is gaining of power through transparent elections.But this has not happened in Afghanistan. The other feature of democracy is a meaningful role for the people, especially political parties, in sharing power. But this too has been conspicuously absent.

Needs of ethnic collectivities  have over-ruled individual rights. “Childish emotions” rather than rational thinking have got the better of Afghan politicians.

One of the flaws in Afghan democracy is the absence of proper political parties.  Afghanistan has more than 72 officially registered political parties and numerous movements occupying the political landscape. But political parties must be defined on the basis of modern criteria not ethnic and other traditional criteria, which divide people along rigid lines, Akbari says. These criteria preclude genuine cooperation and the emergence of common platforms to run a run a country on the basis of stable policies and unified governmental action.

Since politics is nothing more than jockeying for power and retention of power by fair means or foul, it is based on division and conflicts rather than cooperation for the common good.

“Some political parties based on ethnicity invent enemies, so as to continue their games. It can be said that ethnic leaders and voting banks are obstacles to the institutionalization of democracy in Afghanistan,” Akbari says.

He also points out that poverty and the perpetual struggle to live, leave most Afghans with no time or inclination to think about secondary needs like participation in the political process. This means that many vote just for cash.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai considers the present election ill-timed. The war has not ended and US-Taliban talks have broken down with US President Trump ending it. The Taliban is still refusing to include the Kabul regime in talks saying that it is a US puppet. Therefore, what good is going to be achieved by holding an election and installing another “US puppet regime” in Kabul?

Given the objective conditions in Afghanistan, the only workable solution is to recognize that unity can achieved only by one and only common institution, namely Islam. Islam is the only glue which binds the various classes, tribes and regions of Afghanistan. And the most effective instrument of Islam in Afghanistan are the Taliban. They represent the Shariah which every Muslim could be expected to adhere to.

True, the Taliban are mostly Pashtun, one of the many tribal communities in Afghanistan. But the Pashtun are the single largest community in Afghanistan.

Moreover, the Taliban had ruled Afghanistan after defeating the warlords from other tribes. But the US suspected that the Taliban regime was sheltering the 9/11 perpetrator Osama bin Laden and invaded Afghanistan and overthrew the Taliban.

However, the Taliban fought its way back, eventually making Washington come to the negotiating table.  It is another matter that President Trump called off the talks when he found that yielding to the Taliban in a pre-election year will cost him dearly.

Afghanistan has to brace itself for a prolonged conflict. Either the United States or the Taliban have to win decisively for the country to settle down to orderly political and economic development.

(The featured image at the top shows Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Taliban and its Chief Negotiator) 

 

 

 

SendShare4Tweet1ShareShare
Editor

Editor

Recommended Articles

  • All
  • Recommend
Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

Iranaitivu residents protest against COVID-19 burials

March 3, 2021
A conversation with Bertrand Russell (1952)

A conversation with Bertrand Russell (1952)

March 2, 2021
Lanka, India, Maldives set up Maritime Security Secretariat

Lanka, India, Maldives set up Maritime Security Secretariat

March 2, 2021
Imran Khan adds new dimensions to ties with Sri Lanka

Imran Khan adds new dimensions to ties with Sri Lanka

March 1, 2021
Nawam Perahera in Colombo was a colour fest, though with fewer elephants

Nawam Perahera in Colombo was a colour fest, though with fewer elephants

February 27, 2021
COVID body being brought for cremation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka finally allows burial of Covid-19 victims

February 25, 2021

Advertorial

  • All
  • Advertorial
Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

Visual and Textual Analysis for Images with Reverse Search Tools

January 3, 2021

Popular Now

  • UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    UNHRC debate: A majority of countries spoke in favour of Sri Lanka

    70 shares
    Share 53 Tweet 7
  • Background to Lanka’s decision to lift ban on burying COVID dead

    32 shares
    Share 21 Tweet 5
  • India tells UNHRC devolution of power is critical for reconciliation in Sri Lanka

    47 shares
    Share 38 Tweet 4
  • Tokyo asks China to stop anal swab tests for COVID-19 on Japanese citizens

    19 shares
    Share 12 Tweet 3
  • Lanka takes three crucial decisions to garner Indian and Muslim support in UNHRC

    11 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States

© 2020 NewsIn.Asia - Lovingly maintained by DigitalArc.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In