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  Afghanistan: Pashtun Alienation

Kabul/Brussels, 5 August 2003: A key obstacle to enduring peace in Afghanistan is the perception among ethnic Pashtuns that they are not meaningfully represented in the central government, particularly in its security institutions.

A new report published today by the International Crisis Group, Afghanistan: The Problem of Pashtun Alienation*, says that ethnically targeted violence and displacement of Pashtuns, heavy handed search operations and collaboration with abusive commanders by the U.S.-led Coalition are also contributing to a sense of alienation.

ICG’s Afghanistan Analyst, Vikram Parekh, said: “Unless measures are taken to address Pashtun grievances and ensure that a more representative government emerges from the 2004 election, the political process could end in failure”.

Although the President of the Afghan Interim Administration, Hamid Karzai, is a Pashtun, the security institutions are dominated by a mainly Panjshiri Tajik armed faction, the Shura-yi Nazar-I Shamali (Supervisory Council of the North). The President is widely seen to have been unable to limit either the power of the Shura-yi Nazar or that of the commanders, irrespective of ethnicity, who wield power in other parts of the country.

“The risks posed by the growing disaffection among Pashtuns in Afghanistan should be self-evident”, said Vikram Parekh. “The Taliban came to power in part because local commanders had become notorious for their abusive conduct and extortion of traders. Today’s insecurity in the south and east, impediments to trade and competition for influence by neighbouring states such as Pakistan and Iran present a set of conditions dangerously close to those prevailing at the time of the Taliban’s emergence”.

The elections scheduled for June 2004 will be critical. The removal of abusive regional authorities and their replacement by educated professionals who are perceived to be neutral actors will go a long way toward rebuilding support for the central government.

Security problems must also be addressed. The mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) or an equivalent mission must be extended beyond Kabul. As the election approaches, it is essential that non-militarised political parties have the necessary security space and legal authorisation to campaign freely.


Media Contacts: Katy Cronin (London) +44 20 7981 0330 [email protected]
Francesca Lawe-Davies (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536 00 65
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
*Read the ICG report in full on our website:
http://www.crisisweb.org/

The International Crisis Group (ICG) is an independent, non-profit, multinational organisation, with over 90 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.


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