We all read in ST and heard news of the reason for NATO’s current military offensive at Helmant province in
Afghanisatan – to get rid of Taliban. But read this what one MP of
Afghanistan has to say of the offensive.
Extract From “www.independent.co.uk.”
“Afghanistan’s “most famous woman” has voiced deep scepticism about
Operation Moshtarak’s aims and its impact on Afghan
civilians.
“It is ridiculous,” said Malalai Joya, an elected member of the
Afghan parliament. “On the one hand they call on Mullah Omar to
join the puppet regime. On another hand they launch this attack in
which defenceless and poor people will be the prime victims. Like
before, they will be killed in the Nato bombings and used as human
shields by the Taliban. Helmand’s people have suffered for years
and thousands of innocent people have been killed so far.” Her
fears were confirmed when Nato reported yesterday that a rocket
that missed its target had killed 12 civilians at a house in
Marjah.
Ms Joya believes that corruption is endemic, citing uranium
deposits and opium as incentives for Nato and Afghan officials to
retain a presence in Helmand. Operation Moshtarak is described as
an inclusive offensive, depending for its longer-term success on
involvement of Afghan forces. But Ms Joya said: “The Afghan police
force is the most corrupt institution in Afghanistan. Bribery is
common and if you have money, by bribing police from top to bottom
you can do almost anything. In many parts of Afghanistan, people
hate the police more than the Taliban. In Helmand, for instance,
people are afraid of police who commit violence against people and
make trouble. The majority of the police force in this province are
addicted to opium and cannabis.”