By: Naseebullah Khan
The Taliban have denied the observation that they are responsible for the ongoing humanitarian extremity and have remarked that the crises had engulfed Afghanistan before they took over the Capital city Kabul and alleged the previous governments responsible for the current catastrophes in the country.
Let us first look into the painful social indicators that are prevailing in Afghanistan.
As per the report of the IMF in which the organization warns that the economy of Afghanistan may shrink to 30 percent in a couple of months. At present, 97 pc of Afghans are in the grip of acute poverty. Food inflation has escalated by 50 pc. The UNFPA has feared and estimated that if urgent measures are not taken, 51000 maternal deaths and 4.8 million unintended pregnancies might occur shortly.
Moreover, the country’s health system has collapsed as the WHO observes that only 80 to 90 healthcare centres are providing services in total of 2300 centres throughout the country. And that only 4.6 doctors are available for 10,000 Afghans.
Nevertheless, the World Food Programme has also called for action as a UN study estimates that 22.8 million could face acute hunger during winter months, with 8.7 million people at emergency levels.
Abdallah Al Dardari, the resident representative for the UNDP in Afghanistan in a recent interview with the NBC said that some 23 million people are in desperate need of food, the $20 billion economies could shrink by $4 billion or more.
The Taliban are the sole of the country now. They have to deliver without any excuse. At this juncture, it does not make sense who is responsible and who is not. If, for a while, their plea is accepted that the previous governments were responsible for the currents pains__the responsibility of the Taliban increases more to getting the boat out of the whirlpool.
The three months performance of the Taliban reflects a murky posture and a bitter reality. The government employees have not been paid their salaries for three months whereas the competent brains, intelligentsia, and economic experts are fleeing the state. The state machinery is at a standstill position.
The Taliban have to answer the questions as what is the qualification of their nominated vice-chancellor of the Kabul University. They have to highlight the potential and experience of ministers for finance, energy, mines, and minerals, education, and health along with the rest of the ministers. Mere a Talib leader who fought against the US ought not to be the credential of a minister.
The real test of the Taliban has started to focus on governance and establishing diplomatic ties with the foreign world. Their capacity will gesticulate as how they satisfy the world community and the people of Afghanistan.
It has been three months of the Taliban in the power corridors; the question arises as to why they have not proposed their economic plan? If the US does not unfreeze the 9.5 billion, what alternate plan does the government have? Even, the government has not announced the future governing policy of any ministry yet. The policies concerning the issue of the flag, the form of the constitution, the policy for women’s education, and the fate of the previous employees are still behind the dark curtains.
The disaster in Afghanistan is in front of us. Its economy, administration, and social indicators will witness more shocks. Will the Taliban pay heed or will they keep continue the mantra that they are not responsible for the current situation and will disassociate themselves from the responsibilities which are due to them, or will they continue blaming the previous governments for the present pathetic situation? If they can govern, they should. Or else they ought to recognize that war and governance are two distinct phenomena.
The writer is a freelance columnist. He tweets at @Naseebk95976870