There is an emerging consensus that United States (US) and international policies are wrong-headed and ineffective in delivering peace, stability and democratic governance to Afghanistan. This paper, published by the Centre for International Governance Innovation, is part of a signature research project exploring Afghanistan. The US and partners must adopt a regional approach to Afghanistan’s problems and foster the development of an appropriate governance system to replace the current dysfunctional system.
Flawed assumptions advocated by both the US and Kabul have contributed to the current political and security crisis. They include the US assumption that the rise of the Taliban was caused by the fall of the Pashtun from their historically dominant position. Moreover, returning the Pashtun to power would result in reconciliation between the government and the Taliban and a negotiated settlement. Security in Afghanistan worsens daily. Citizens and members of parliament are increasingly critical of both foreign and Karzai policies. Kabul currently has four parallel governments: the US embassy and military, other international forces, international non-governmental organisations, and financial institutions. These entities operate independently and pay little heed to the Karzai government.
Contrary to US-Kabul assumptions, the rise of the Taliban was caused by the Pashtun elites’ claim to the exclusive right to rule over all other ethnic groups. Other assessments include:
- Current statebuilding policies have revived the dysfunctional political culture of the monarchic state. Non-Pashtun populations are now treated once again as internal “colonial” subjects in the name of re-establishing national unity through a centralised state in the hands of the Pashtun.
- A reaffirment of a sovereignty-based, Kabul-centred and kin-based political culture to the exclusion of more inclusive governance.
- Despite claims that post-Taliban Afghanistan is democratic, there is a growing mistrust between citizens and state authorities. State institutions are increasingly staffed with Afghans returning from Europe and America who do not understand the complexities and nuances of current Afghan politics and society.
- Re-institution of person-centred systems has fostered a corrupt political economy based on patronage and increasing government dependence on foreign subsidies.
- By forging partnerships with particular sets of elites to serve their own interests, members of the international community have re-affirmed the old political structure.
- While alternative policies were available to key Afghan and foreign actors, they did not have the will, vision or commitment to explore them.
The following approach would begin to address the critical political and security problems in Afghanistan:
- US and its coalition partners must become honest arbiters and power brokers and encourage development of a culturally appropriate Afghan governance system.
- The international community must adopt a regional approach to Afghanistan’s problems. In particular, lasting peace is dependent on resolution of the border dispute with Pakistan.
- The Afghan government focus on the trappings of the old monarchy must be systemically changed to include improvement of socio-economic conditions.
- This system should be built from the bottom up and run by empowered Pashtun and non-Pashtun Afghan citizens applying well tested principle of local/community self governance based on a fair division of power/resources and responsibilities between Kabul and the provinces and their smaller administrative units including municipalities.
