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Weekly Commentaries

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Where a Billion is Fifty Billions
08 Apr 2008
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
The best alternative to war is peace. Investment in education is extremely cheaper than waging a war. The prices of helicopters and tanks spent on peaceful social and economic development projects could buy friends and allies for the global objective of the war on terror and would lead masses of people to fight the war themselves provided they are prudently educated and enlightened to do so. This would be much easier in a country where a billion dollar is equal to fifty billion Afghanis and where a loaf of bread (weighing 16 oz.) costs less than 20 American cents. A review of strategy and course is definitely required.
Karzai, in Charge of One Third of Afghanistan
01 Mar 2008
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
Who and what is running Afghanistan and how much of it is being ruled by government or is under the rule of law? Situations in the region have become tenser and those in Pakistan very dire. There is a need to look beyond another year that remains in the presidency of Mr. Karzai. Would he run again? Indications are that he would. Does he need to stay the slow course of governance? Perhaps he should change course. How about his rivals?
Is Late better than Never?
24 Jan 2008
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
Planning based on priorities of the people is essential for any development anywhere and especially in countries that hope for reconstruction after complete devastation such as in Afghanistan. An extra-ordinary cabinet meeting in Kabul has given attention to the issue of allotment of percentages of the government’s annual budget to a number of vital sectors in the country.
The Three Flat Tires of the Tricycle
14 Dec 2007
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
Democracy runs on three wheels, like a tricycle on the three branches of government. It will run smoothly when the three wheels work in unison checking and balancing each other for the benefit of the nation. Does this happen in Afghanistan?
What Goes Around Comes Around
03 Dec 2007
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
Important and decisive political games are played in Pakistan today that not only affect that country, but also and especially influence the affairs in Afghanistan, as well as the region and the world. Some issues in these games are highlighted. For example the role of Pakistan in creation of the Taleban movement and her recognition and support of the Taleban government compared to its proclamation of readiness to fight the extremism today.

Recent Analysis and Reports

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Afghan Economy in the War and Pre-War Period
26 Jul 2004
By: Aziz Babakarkhail
It is of paramount importance to know that democratic political institutions had existed in the country to shape political affairs prior to president Dauod took over in 1973 in a coup d'etat; constitutional monarchy was abolished and Daoud announced himself as president of the Afghan Republic. The coup d'etat since then has developed to be a major and decisive component in the Afghan political culture. During the Russians' invasion, several Soviet
Innovative Methods Can Thwart Afghan Warlords
12 Aug 2002
By: James O'Brian USA Today
In Afghanistan, the warlords are fighting each other again, as they have for decades. Their rivalries threaten the peace our soldiers won. Their violence could cost the lives of Americans now guarding President Hamid Karzai.
This is Kabul!
01 May 2002
By: Halima Kazem
I am having the experience of my life here in Kabul. Landing in Kabul Valley, in the middle of the beautiful Hindu Kush Mountains was a surreal feeling. It still hasn't hit me that I am in Afghanistan, a place that existed only in my dreams. I thought I would feel homesick but the moment I landed in Kabul Airport I felt the majestic mountains embrace me like a long lost mother and the battered but resilient ground support me like a brave! father.
An Introduction To The Economic Reconstruction of Afghanistan
01 Jan 2002
By: Dr. Nour Ali
Afghanistan’s economy being ravaged almost completely, its reconstruction has to be started ipso facto from scratch or “Tabula raza”. The pattern of reconstruction chosen will determine the direction of the consequent political, social, and economic character of the Afghan society. Every precautionary measures must be taken to adduce this economy to the path of highest possible rate of growth with its benefit distributed equitably among all strata of the Afghan community, securing for the country as a whole a long lasting peace and stability.
The Right to Choose in Afghanistan
01 Jan 2002
By: Dr. Omar Zakhilwal
I am a member of the Loya Jirga’s silent majority – or rather, silenced majority – who came to Kabul expecting to shape our nation’s future but instead find ourselves being dragged back into the past. We came from all parts of the country to claim our freedom and democracy, but instead are being met with systematic threats and intimidation aimed at undermining our free choice.
National Development Framework
01 Jan 2002
By:
prepared for the Afghan Assistance Coordination Authority (AACA): There is a consensus in Afghan society: violence as a means of compelling the majority to submit to the will of minority must end. The people's aspirations must be represented and reflected in an accountable government that delivers value on a daily basis.
Loya Jirga
30 Jul 2001
By: Dr. G. Rauf Roashan
It is a fact that for as long as history remembers, human societies in their long historical evolution have used councils and meetings to decide on issues that directly impacted their lives within their families, villages, tribes and regions. Even prehistoric man used councils in deciding how to deal with the wild that threatened his life or how to deal with natural calamities or even hostile neighboring tribes. But in Afghanistan’s history councils have played a greater role for a number of reasons that will be explained in this paper.
Human Rights and Reconstruction in Afghanistan
01 Apr 2001
By: Center for Economic and Social Rights
This is becoming a familiar pattern -- the US makes a mess of things and the UN is forced to come in and clean up, but without the political or military muscle to get the job done. Then when it blows up several months or years later, we the blame while the US is busy bombing elsewhere. UN field officer.
Special Model of Provisional Government for Afghanistan
01 Mar 2001
By: Dr. Nour Ali
In order for the contemplated transitional government to succeed to bring about in Afghanistan a democratic system of political power fit for the country, the existence of an effective state apparatus with appropriate state institutions is indispensable. Such a state apparatus, while ensuring continuity in the normal conduct of the country's public affairs, would take necessary steps towards transition to democracy by legalizing all the required freedoms including those of assembly, of association for political parties, of access to media and of organizing competitive elections.
Reconstruction and Peace Building in a Regional Framework
01 Jan 2001
By: Barnett R. Rubin
By: Ashraf Ghani, William Maley, Ahmad Rashid, and Olivier Roy They write: "Economic and social issues such as education cannot await a political settlement. The absence or weakness of institutions is one of the causes of the conflict and makes any purely political settlement difficult if not impossible. Hence efforts at reconstruction and institution and institution building need to precede and act as a catalyst for political agreements rather then reverse

Constitution

Afghan Constitution The 1976 Constitution of President Daud
The 1964 Constitution of King Zaher Shah
Communist Era Constitution
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Current Affairs

Current Affairs

Afghanistan: Toward Parliamentary Elections Kabul/Brussels, 23 November 2004
By: INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP - NEW REPORT
Constitution an Exercise in Nation Building
A Test in Social Organization
by: Dr. Rauf Roashan


Changes in the Draft Constitution of Afghanistan Introduced
by the Bureau and Reconciliation Commission of the
Consitutional Loya Jirga
Prepared by: Barnett R. Rubin

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs):
by: Charlotte Watkins (Word Doc.)

Building a Post-War Justice System in Afghanistan
by: Ali Wardak
University of Glamorgan, UK (Word Doc.)

KARZAI'S STATE-OF-THE-NATION SPEECH
Radio Afghanistan (Dari and Pashto)
Kabul, Afghanistan
April 8, 2003
In his state-of the-nation address Afghan leader Hamed Karzai criticized his government for its shortcomings, its failure to provide security by setting up a   ....more 

Capacity Building for Development

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Building Up Capacity At The Central Statistical Office
25 Jun 2007
By: Aziz Babakarkhail

A great deal of efforts has been made to revive or rebuild vital institutions in the country. However, the degree of focus on individual institution, as well as aligning priorities of rebuilding a large number of governmental organizations, in view of the resource constraints, amounts to making hard choices among competing alternatives, leading often to an unintentional postponement. The CSO’s case is not an exception from this rule.

It is a remarkable accomplishment that the Statistical Master Plan has been laid out to strengthen the statistical capacity in the country and the CSO has been granted an independent status. However, this accomplishment can never solely function, as an end in itself. But, there is an urgent need for a strong and proactive dynamism to turn this achievement into a means in order to achieve the superior objective- building up human and institutional capacity at CSO and thereby improving the national statistical system.