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| Debate (Voters and Candidates) - Mahbob-U-lah Koshani |
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| Question 1 |
| Naqeebullah, 34, resident of Ghazni, says: “Fighting is there for over three decades. I don’t know when will it come to an end.” How will you help Afghans unite to ensure peace and bring prosperity to their country? |
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To the questioner I should say that there has been fighting in the last thirty years in Afghanistan and there nothing existed by the name of government. One generation has grown up selfish and is used to non-governance. Existence of a practical government is the first condition for enforcement of rule of law and discipline in the country. It means a government that will have sufficient, effective, and patriotic army and police in the first place. This government should not allow any other power to use arms and at least be able to disburse its daily expenditure from within the country. This government shall feel responsible to the people and prioritize their wants and needs as first of its undertakings. Such a government would definitely attract the support and backing of the locals; it will find legitimacy in practice. People would adhere to such government without use of force. Whenever such a government extends reconciliation and negotiation offers to the opposing parties, it will be good. But should not do such for advertisement purposes and shall understand problems ahead of reaching peace and shall also explain these problems honestly to the people. The peace can be fostered in Afghanistan when both sides - both armed opponents and government - believe that there is no improvement through warfare. And also when foreign supporters of the armed opponents don’t commit to support them for their warring purposes. I think we have not reached such a position, moreover such solution proves that neighboring countries, world powers and regional states should come out with practical cooperation in the field. |
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| Question 2 |
| Muhammad Latif, resident of Nawabad village of Shindand district of Herat province, lost eight family members in foreign forces' bombing. He says: “I was the only family member out of home the night the foreign troops bombed the area. What is your plan to stop such irresponsible air raids and how will you overcome the obstacles of translating your plan into action?” |
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To Muhammad Latif Khan I should reiterate that I am of those who never support under any name the interference of the foreign soldiers in Afghanistan. I who has participated in the elections with a detailed plan in political, economical, social and cultural aspects of lives of Afghanistan people will demand of all forces involved to avoid the increasing casualties of the innocent civilians and will ask them not to use the innocent civilians as shield and do not make the lives of people investment for their advertisements. People should also not let anyone make their house and nest a center for fighting. We also demanded of the foreign forces to do their best to avoid operations in the residential areas, avoid irresponsible activities with misinformation and perceive Afghanistan National Army as army of an independent country. To do their operations with close coordination and consultations of the Afghanistan National Army, and those who cause unnecessary deaths of civilians, no matter in what position and level they might be, should be handed severe retribution. The families and dependents of the victims shall be compensated. And to avoid Afghanistan from falling into fantasy and wrong perception that foreign troops would guard it forever after and to avoid movements of regional countries and neighbors that do not consent to foreign soldiers presence in the region, we have proposed the foreign troops to spell out a time for their withdrawal from Afghanistan…. So in this period government and people of Afghanistan with the support of the international community and their own hard work find the ability to take the charge of their security issues and solve them. |
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| Question 3 |
| Amanullah Babakarkhel (65), resident of Atash village of Khan Abad district in Kunduz, says: “I wish Afghans, whether in or out of government, to unite and live in peace. What is your plan for bringing armed opponents of the government into the political and national mainstream? Please also explain how you will deal with those accused of war crimes." |
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To my dear brother I should say that he raised an important issue. I believe that without peace and security nothing is possible in Afghanistan and the very peace should be brought by the people of Afghanistan. The inter-Afghan understanding implies the same meaning, to reach an understanding and peace we should find a central shared point that represents the interest of all. Afghanistan is a society where different groups of people are not living a similar life and ideas; Afghanistan our country is the house of all these groups. No one should impose his own thoughts and style of life on other groups and lives of others with force. In the current condition we can find the shared central point at least in the constitution of Afghanistan which has been approved by a traditional political institution (Loya Jirga). The nations should not submit their wills against force. We should contrast submission against force in one hand and peace and reconciliation on the other hand. I believe we should not let anyone at any cost to impose and make his own favorite political system on people through use of force. If we submit our will on one group there is no guarantee that we will submit our will to another group that uses force. As a result the honor and determination of Afghanistan people will end forever and we will remain a nation that submits itself and thus we will not show any reaction against injustice and our human values will be trampled |
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| Question 4 |
| Gul Rahman (39), resident of Chak district of the central Maidan Wardak province, says the quality of education in schools is dismal. “Many Afghans cannot afford to send their children to private schools and universities. If no remedial action is taken, children of the poor will be deprived of their right to education. How can you enhance teachers' educational qualifications and increase the quota for admissions to centres for higher education to ensure equal opportunities for all?” |
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My dear brother, you pointed to one of the important pillars of instability in Afghanistan. Our education system requires a through review from primary to higher education. Our problem is not only low education level, lack of teachers and insufficient policies for attracting graduates but also the strategy and philosophy of education requires a reform according to the needs of the time. The school and higher education institutes' curriculum are not consistent with current modern requirements, the teaching material and principles of teaching or teaching methodology are the oldest in the world. Afghanistan should prepare itself for a constant development. Our children should not only learn to know arts and gain knowledge but also to practically be able to use it for the betterment and development of the society. Now teaching sixteen subjects in school is not a routine in anywhere in the world, our graduates should become talented specialists and problem-solving and technical personnel. Therefore it is important that instead of these high schools of fellow science (where social and science subjects are taught together) establishment of vocational educational centers are given more importance. The education in schools of the provinces should not be so the graduates turn to capital to seek employment and so they become a means of service in their respective provinces and contribute to the development of their society and livelihood. Our higher education system should improve the quality in the soonest and knowing a foreign language in full should be a condition for graduation from school. |
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| Question 5 |
| Faiz Muhammad, 48, resident of Kabul, says: “I'm a labourer but don't find job on a regular basis. I have five children. What is the reason of joblessness and what are your plans to provide employment for the people?” |
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My dear brother, this is the problem about which millions of Afghanistan people complain. This problem is sourced from the economic strategy (Open Doors) that is the practice of Afghanistan government. This economic principle does not hold any responsibility to the society and people. Against that strategy we believe in the development of a human-centered economic system. The economy is good when the people have full stomachs, their children study, have shelter, and have good health. Currently 70 percent of our populations under 30 are looking for employment. The Afghan government has no incentive policies for establishment of factories with products which can replace the exported goods. With US$10,000 to $20,000, we can establish small factories where dozens of Afghan workers can work and support the living of their families and also learn a skill. If we consider the imports in Afghanistan and decide that with a small investment we can produce those imported goods inside Afghanistan, undoubtedly we can provide working opportunities for a hundred thousands of people. Also big projects such as establishment of roads and rivers can help a hundred of thousands of human being to find employment. Water dams, water reservoirs and rivers and establishment of irrigation system can increase the irrigated lands and thus people will find lands that will increase our yield to replace foreign cereal import. |
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| Question 6 |
| Nazako is a resident of Shiberghan, capital of Jawzjan. Her sister committed self-immolation. She says: “My sister took the extreme step because of the ill-treatment meted out to her by their step brother.” More than 500 such incidents took place in different parts of the country last year. What is your plan to prevent these incidents and alleviate women's plight? |
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The sister has pointed to the historical injustice against women, and that self-immolation is one of its examples. The women can be hopeful in enforcement of justice for them when this demand for justice is in practice and supported by huge groups of women. In our election policy we have explained this in cities and suburbs of Afghanistan separately. Different movements of women for this reason have been established for this purpose in the capital and a number of other cities, but there has not been any recent joint movement. Luckily Campaign of 5 Million Women Voters is a hopeful movement which I have supported. This movement requires publicizing to all the society the social standing of Afghanistan woman as a socially active being. The efforts and tasks of women at home and raising the children, which is harder than males' work out of home, is mostly ignored. If the Afghan male-dominated society doesn’t know that women also work, they will continue to behave with them as beggars and poor. The judicial system should be reformed and women workers should be increased in this department. These institutions address 30 percent of disputes of people and 70 percent of family problems in the suburbs and rural areas are addressed by local mullahs, Taliban courts or elders council. It will be better if government and nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations prove their existence in the outlying areas of Afghanistan and through training and influence; they can make the decisions of these courts fairer.
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| Question 7 |
| Najeebullah (27), a dweller of Kabul, says: “I’ve a case with an influential man. I was confident of my success. But when the case went to the government, it was decided in favour of my rival – thanks to the bribes and influence he used. What is your plan to eradicate administrative corruption from all departments?” |
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I am very sorry to see my young brother is faced with unfaithfulness of the governmental organizations. Corruption in administrative organs is one of the three to four beasts that lead Afghanistan toward calamity. Despite the clear statements of constitutional law on power structure, in the action in Afghanistan government powers that are not responsible [and] that are not political have decisive roles. Leaders of organizations, not the clean and honest mujahideen, are leaders of unofficial armed groups and drug smugglers that are essentially involved in creation of corruption in administration. If a leader has sincerely struggled for freedom of the country and deserves social respect and has moral or ethical authority in the society, he/she should not change his ethical authority as political and interference in government affairs. If he/she wants a governmental position, should not demand special rights, he should politically participate in political process and should not speak as a political figure not jihadist. Unofficial armed groups should be fully conscientiously merged. Smugglers of should be subjected to serious retributions and they should not be allowed to meddle in affairs. Government workers and personnel should not be appointed for their links with so-and-so and parties but for their deservingness. The law should be enforced in balanced manner on all and no one should be immune from law enforcement, intermediation of no one should replace the laws. Administrative procedures should get simple and a dozen signatures should not be required for a simple application. All the bribe-taking and violators especially the powerful should be made examples of so others get lesson from it and none dare to pester people. |
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| Question 8 |
| Habib Gul, resident of Asmar district of Kunar province, says: “We’re deprived of electricity although we’ve ample water in our river flowing into Pakistan. Afghanistan has an estimated 75 billion cubics of water and 80 per cent of it is used by our neighbours. What are your plans for tapping these resources and providing clean drinking water to the people?” |
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The problem of water is a complex problem of the world today. Currently the price of one liter water is higher than the price of one liter petrol. It is said the next fighting of the world countries would be over water rather than fuel. With the problem of the water we should act very cautiously and should act according to the interest of the people of Afghanistan and world peace. I agree with Brother Habib Gul on water resources of Afghanistan. There are different types of excess use of water in Afghanistan. Digging wells in unprofessional way under deep well, using faucet water for irrigation and watering lands, showering and agriculture affairs and worst of all are leaving the faucet carelessly open. We have a lot of springs and water resources that have sound drinking water and with establishment of water supply networks and installing meters that cannot be misused we can supply potable water to a huge number of populations. On the other hand with domestic investment we can provide reasonable bottled water. Fair use of Afghanistan water resources and establishment of water reservoirs can help us with agriculture crops and hydroelectric power. But as our country is located in a geographical area where there are less rain water the importance of focus on preservation and increasing water resources is greater. This is possible only if the meadows, grazing yards and green zones that attract humidity and cause rain are not changed to residential areas. Such excess use and lack of attention to little water will dry out the insufficient water.
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| Question 9 |
| Sixty-year-old Muhammad Rahman, a shopkeeper in Khost province, says: “Neighbouring countries have been interfering in internal affairs of Afghanistan for the past 30 years. We are facing problems because of the foreign presence and the neighbours. We are concerned about that. What are your plans to address that concern of the people?” |
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The neighboring countries can meddle in our internal affairs when we have tribal, linguistic and religious prejudices with each other. To solve this problem we should reach an agreement and not discriminate and seek dominance over one another. And should accept that in our livelihood affairs and all governmental positions we all are entitled with similar rights and responsibilities. Government should also have this duty and government's honesty shall be acknowledged by all leaders of tribal, lingual and religious parties. We should all think ourselves citizens of Afghanistan and defend Afghanistan's freedom and integrity with sincerity. This strategy will not only defeat neighboring countries, but also great powers from meddling in Afghanistan affairs. In my belief there is no reason that Afghanistan engage in fighting with its neighbors, the current economic development opportunities provided in the region has bestowed Afghanistan with a role of linking bridge. We suggest Afghanistan could be a region of peace, closeness and cooperation; Afghanistan should never become military base of any country. Disruptive and armed groups from Afghanistan should not be sent to any other country, with use of force infiltration in our borders can not stopped. Merely peace, and extensive economic cooperation and establishing consulate facilities and issuance of visa can protect our borders. Providing that as we are living in a real world, Afghanistan should be impartial according to the international conventions that are guaranteed by neighboring countries, regional powers and world |
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| Question 10 |
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In your view, what are the top qualities an Afghan president should have? And what qualities do you see in yourself as a candidate for the top slot? |
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| I think a good president is the one who knows and states to the people that he cannot do miracles as a human and individual so people don’t have and rely on false expectations and find solutions for their own problems beforehand. He should think about the destiny of the Afghan people as a single entity and not only focus on one tribe, religion and language so he can win the enthusiastic trust of all people of Afghanistan. He should recognize the complex problems of today of Afghanistan draft the alternative solutions of those problems and declare them to gain support and hear views of millions of people of Afghanistan before he takes charge of the presidential seat. He should speak to Afghanistan people clearly not in clichés and state (to the nation) that if there is any solution it is in your hand, and all the international donors act from politics, and we may have their help today but not tomorrow. He should inculcate civil courage and charge up enthusiasm in people and fight against the currently dominant hopelessness. I personally believe in these principles and so far have struggled to fulfill them practically and wish in case the time for test comes, I will make God and his people happy with fulfilling the commitment to those principles. |
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