Rebuilding Afghanistan

Columnist SYMA NASIR examines the reconstruction of this devastated nation.

Recently, an international conference held in Tokyo, Japan regarding reconstruction of Afghanistan. Representatives from sixty countries and twenty international organizations participated in the conference. Four and half billion US dollars were pledged by the international community for reconstruction of Afghanistan over a period of five years in the conference. Afghanistan, a war torn country has seen worst type of devastation for the last two and half decades. This devastation started with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and continued till today. Means to say that this land has witnessed destruction after destruction. After the withdrawal of Russian forces, it was thought that the country that remained a victim of war and destruction for ten years will get a break and peace and stability will come to this land and reconstruction process will start. But unfortunately, different Afghan groups and warlords who fought against Russian forces, started fighting among themselves for power and what was left in the country was destroyed as a result of this fighting among various groups. This phenomenon continued for another ten years. During all these years a lot many efforts were made to bring peace to the troubled country but all failed due to un-willing attitude of Afghan warlords and groups and due to lack of interest of world powers. Then Taliban appeared on the stage and fighting between Taliban and Northern Alliance on the one hand and with other groups on the other played its role in further devastation of the country. The final stage came after Sept 11, 2001 and with the start of war against terrorism by America on Afghanistan. It is a fact that this ruined land of Afghanistan has been betrayed by America and other developed countries in the past. Here we can quote what followed after the withdrawal of Russian forces from Afghanistan. What was required was an efficient involvement of the world powers particularly USA for establishing peace and stable government and for starting reconstruction of the country but contrary to this Afghanistan was left alone. As no serious efforts were made for bringing order and peace in the country and no provisions were made for reconstruction and rebuilding and this attitude of the world powers left the country open to further fighting among various groups, the result was further destruction and deterioration. If at that time world powers had realized their responsibilities and had contributed generously in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and in the forming of full representative government with powers to control and funds available for rebuilding, perhaps things would have been different now.

This time it appears that America and its allies have realised the fault made by them in the past and are serious to bring normalcy in Afghanistan by helping the formation of full representative administration and by getting rebuilding activities started in the country. On the first day of reconstruction conference, international community promised three and half billion US dollars for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Prime Minister of the host country Japan announced half billion US dollars as aid for starting rebuilding of Afghanistan over a period of two and a half years. American side announced about 0.4 billion US dollars to be provided and said that it is the first instalment. It was also announced by the American Secretary of State that not only America but also whole world is with Afghanistan and now they will not be left alone, as has been the case in the past.

The Prime Minister of Afghan interim government, Mr. Hamid Karzai, requested world community in the conference that they should contribute generously for the rebuilding of Afghanistan and said that only during the current year they are in need of two billion US dollars. It is a fact that without starting reconstruction activities and without making arrangements for combating poverty in Afghanistan, genuine peace will not be achieved and the objective of having civilized society will not be realized. For this, and to achieve the most urgent need is reconstruction of Afghanistan. America in particular and world community in general has assured that mistake made by them in the past will not be repeated this time and have committed themselves to the rebuilding of the country. The truth is that without strong administrative structure efficient reconstruction activities cannot be started, even if sufficient funds are made available for rebuilding activities. If arrangements are made to make the administrative machinery effective and reconstruction work gets started then it is hoped that positive changes will occur in that country. With the start of these activities people will be able to get jobs, education and civic facilities consequently a feeling will be there that a change is really going on and this will not only alter their attitude but make them respective to normal living. The start of business activity will also play its role in this regard. This will also help in convincing hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees to go back to their country. But a point worth mentioning here is that, in the conference held in Tokyo only four and half billion US dollars have been promised for the reconstruction of Afghanistan spreading over a period of 5 years. Looking at the problems and devastation, Afghanistan is faced with and the level of distraction that has been caused to the country in previous years, this amount is not sufficient and is far less as compared to what is required to jump start the reconstruction activities which is the most important need of the time. World community, specially the developed countries should realize this and must come up to the occasion. Then, another problem that is still present in Afghanistan is fighting among various Afghan groups. Due to this fighting it is difficult to ensure that aid that has been provided or will be provided in future will reach poor deserving Afghans and will be used for reconstruction only because there are reports that aid that has already been provided is not reaching to the deserving Afghans, rather is looted by the men of warlords still occupying various parts of Afghanistan. These two issues must be given due consideration by international community.

Pakistan is a country that has suffered most in social and economic terms of the situations in Afghanistan in previous years. Pakistan provides the facility of transit trade to Afghanistan and both the countries are linked together with very good brotherly relations for more than last two decades. This relationship started with the invasion of Afghanistan by Russian forces. Since then, Pakistan is helping its brother country and is a host to millions of Afghan refugees. Due to this large number of refugees adversely affect the economy of Pakistan. They came again and again and put severe pressure on economy,  but social problems also emerged as well. Though, at present due to changed scenario, Pakistan is in good books of developed world due to its role of front line state in war against terrorism and of international financial institutions due to introduction of reforms and strict adherence to those reforms hence they are treating us on preferred terms. They are extending loans to us on soft conditionalities and for poverty alleviation programmes and most of our earlier debts have been rescheduled. Apart from it we have been given certain trading advantages by the developed world and more have been promised in future. Due to these positive developments, coupled with increased flow of foreign remittances by expatriates, our foreign exchange reserves, for the first time in history have reached US$ five billion. But it is important to point out here that the advantages we have gained, and will be gaining in future will definitely play its role in reducing our economic difficulties but losses to our economy due to the fact that we were frontline state in war against terrorism coupled with international recession are propotionally much more.

Now, when a time has come that reconstruction of Afghanistan is going to start, the opportunities going to be borne with the start of these rebuilding activities should be given to Pakistan. America and its allies should realize the fact that Pakistan has been the most severe sufferer of the problems of Afghanistan and has always played a positive role to deal with the situation there hence should be given priority now when opportunities are there. Pakistan has borne the brunt of situation in Afghanistan for the last 20 or more years, both economically and socially and is hosting millions of Afghan refugees, we must get priority in the reconstruction and rebuilding activities so that the relevant sectors of our economy can benefit from the opportunities that are now available in Afghanistan. Our government must make all her efforts to get this fact realized stating that only due to a front line state in war against terrorism we have suffered heavy losses on economic front. Mr. Hamid Karzai, Prime Minister of Afghan interim government who was on a two-day visit to Pakistan himself admitted the fact that without Pakistan’s help war against terrorism would not have been successful and in future it will be very much required as well, in joint press conference in which our president was also present and which was telecasted on Pakistan television. It was also admitted by Mr. Hamid Karzai, that Pakistan has played very important role in the last two decades for Afghanistan and has suffered losses not only economically but socially as well. It was further announced by him in replying a question that gas pipeline project and road link between Central Asia and Pakistan through Afghanistan will also be materialized as it will prove very helpful in increasing trade relations in the region and all the relevant countries will benefit from these projects tremendously.

Now, when the present administration of Afghanistan is itself aware of the sacrifices made by Pakistan and losses suffered in the past due to turmoil in Afghanistan we must make all efforts to take advantage of the situation for the benefit of our economy. Not only this all the concerned government departments as well as private sector are specifically instructed to play an active role to avail the opportunities. As mentioned above four and half billion US Dollars have been promised out of which nearly 2 billion US Dollars will be provided in current year. Pakistan can benefit in many sectors when rebuilding and reconstruction activities will be started such as agriculture, industry, trade, education, construction, transportation, health, banking etc. This reconstruction can provide a boost especially to our construction and construction material manufacturing industry, banking sector, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and surgical industry etc. In the service sector our professionals related to all fields will be the ones who can benefit a lot. Food and consumer goods sector can be another big beneficiary. Pakistani Embassy in Afghanistan has already been reopened and ban on exports to Afghanistan has been lifted. According to estimates at least 10 billion US Dollars will be required for the reconstruction and rebuilding of Afghanistan as no infrastructure is present there. Various concerned quarters have insisted that the business community of the country to get advantage of the situation. Governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr. Ishrat Hussain has insisted the people from concerned sectors of economy that they should benefit from 10 to 15 billion US Dollars rebuilding activity going to start in Afghanistan and should prepare themselves well in time to exploit the opportunities efficiently.

It has been reported by the national press that Mr. Tariq Ikram, Minister of State and Chairman EPB, has said that a desk on reconstruction of Afghanistan has been setup in Export Promotion Bureau, Karachi office that will coordinate with the same desks setup in EPB offices in Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. He said that EPB would play proactive role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan to exploit the maximum opportunities. This is a step in the right direction. It has further been declared by chairman that the said desk will stay in constant touch with the reconstruction activities in Afghanistan along with the information about global funding being made available for various projects and objectives of reconstruction. He said that Export Promotion Bureau will coordinate with government departments and private sector and will provide relevant information to them. He further said that Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry will be asked to play a proactive role by establishing a desk with at least one representative from important Chamber at Peshawar, Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan etc. It was also said by the Chairman EPB, that provided peace and stability is achieved in Afghanistan, a warehouse of Pakistani goods could be setup in Afghanistan for ensuring ready and quick delivery of our products/goods and high-powered trade delegation can also be sent to Afghanistan. As mentioned above, this is a step in the right direction and it is hoped that this time, all this exercise will not remain a verbal activity and real efforts will be made to exploit this opportunity. It was also said by the Chairman that a workable strategy is still to be devised. In Pakistan a normal practice is, whenever some opportunity arises, a lot is said about grabbing the opportunity but very less in practical follows and even steps that are taken are too late. It is hoped that this time, the same practice will not be repeated and steps/actions will be introduced well in time to take maximum benefits of the situation.

In this regard, role of private sector is very important. Our private sector needs to be pushed as well to prepare and equip itself to grab opportunities in Afghanistan. Our private sector as has been observed on various occasions in the past, lacks initiative and just wants the opportunities to fall in their hands. Hence, as mentioned above private sector needs to be pushed. All the important Chambers and trade bodies, it is suggested be asked to setup cells on reconstruction of Afghanistan, with the task of providing information to its members on time and to point out difficulties if any to the government that comes in the way of successful operations so that arrangements could be made to remove these hurdles either by amending present policies or by introducing new regulations or by discussing the same with the concerned authorities of Afghanistan. Our private sector should immediately start working on these lines, as so far nothing concrete has been planned and this issue is still under process of planning and no road map has been prepared for taking a proactive role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.