Current world affairs – Reaction from our readers on: Taliban taking over Afghanistan, flood, fire, earthquake |19 August 2021
Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul on Sunday after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. ZabiKarimi/AP
The recent development in Afghanistan where the Taliban took over the city of Kabul over the weekend has created a sense of desperation, fear and uncertainty for many of us.
We all witnessed these events live and we are all concerned about what will happen to this country, who had enjoyed a certain degree of peace for the last 20 years.
Other world events such as floods and fires in Europe and the United States of America (USA), the earthquake in Haiti are also the talk of the town.
We asked our readers to share their thoughts on the following questions:
- Are you disturbed by what is going on in Afghanistan?
- As a Seychellois how do you view world events right now – fire, flooding, earthquake, political wars etc.
- As a small island state should we be worried?
Christopher Lespoir: « It is clear that right now, the breaking news of all news seems to be the current issue within Afghanistan where by now Taliban forces have taken over the country, the president has fled and coalition forces withdrawn.
“If there is one thing I have learnt from such past events, it is in fact approach everything with a pinch of salt and allow it to play out. Indeed such development brought about with it, its own chaos with thousands fleeing their native land seeking harbour elsewhere, with fear of persecution. On the other hand, we now see the Taliban forces themselves playing out a different card, one calling for peace, to unite their people. It is a very interesting metaphor because back in the 1990s the same Taliban regime took rise to drive the Russians away. They were then turned into heroes of the land backed up by the West. Now we see the very same friends of the West turning onto the West and driving the American-led coalition forces out. But this begs the question, was it a drive-out or a withdrawal. Is it the end of an agenda or the end of another? We will all remember the controversies around the rise and fall of Osama Bin Laden.
“With all that said, if there is one thing to learn from all this, it is in fact the danger of interfering into the internal affairs of another country. Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, what trend do we see? Forget not, this war in Afghanistan had much more than what meets the eye or what the mainstream media forced down the channels. This battleground gave rise to two new monsters ‒ arms trade and drugs trade ‒ amounting to billions of dollars. Who is playing who and with what? Questions for every free thinker to ponder on. I stand by my belief that within the chaos, order will rise, so let us see how this one plays out.
“The Afghanistan event is only but one. We have just seen the double calamity hitting another island nation, Haiti. Across the globe, fires, earthquakes, flooding, political unrest. Are those new events? No they are not, but they do make up for a good piece of breaking news. But I beg to question, what if we focused breaking news on the real good news. Lives being changed for the better, the spirit of Olympic, positive events happening around the globe, would this be, or make us feel any better? As a small island state, if there is one thing we should learn from all this, it is in fact not how most other countries are doing, but we should focus on how they are not doing. Likewise here in Seychelles we tend to resonate all those news of negativities within our news. Social media at one point became a new plague, where it was turned into a local battleground. What is the price of following the norm of negativity, by a small population like ours? Fear, anxiety, hatred, lies, blasphemy, etc., all are tools of destruction. Yes, as a small island nation we should be worried, not about the end of the world but rather about our now and what we are doing to make or break the very existence of our nation. Regardless of our disagreement, destroying a nation is no excuse and no one has the right to do so. We should use what is going on in the world, what the mainstream considers normal and okay, as a lesson to learn how not to do things. We have enough of our own troubles to focus on, yet keeping in mind we are in the middle of a global village, remaining aware that issues from far away land can quickly become our own.
“As we ponder on the present chaos of the world, let us remain hopeful for a better future, where mankind can truly rise above and call for peace after the war, just like we now see in Afghanistan. The whole world is watching them and waiting, let us give them a chance to find their own way, this time in peace.”
Joelle Fabre: « Oh mon Dieu ! Oui je suis profondément perturbée par tous ces évènements, j'en ai fait des cauchemars cette nuit (Mardi soir). Je me sens tellement impuissante, ces pauvres femmes qui vont être des esclaves sexuelles, elles n’auront plus d’enseignements et elles vont retourner à l’âge de pierres … Ces enfants seront prises car vierges … je suis horrifiée ! Nous ne choisissons pas ou l’on naît et on ne se rend pas compte la chance que nous avons mais que faire pour ces femmes ?
« Les Seychelles sont vraiment bénies, il n’y a pas d’inondations et pas d’incendies mortels. Il faut qu’on arrête de se plaindre et d’être jaloux des voisins. Chacun doit savoir ses priorités. Le réchauffement de la planète fait que d’ici peu nous risquons d’être sous l’océan !!! A nous et à notre système d’éducation de prévenir nos enfants. Notre planète souffre et soyons concentrés et entraidons nous plutôt. »
Russel Vidot: “This should be disturbing to almost everyone across the world. Whether President Joe Biden cares to admit it or not, this is a precursor to more ominous events. It is a direct result of America’s inept and cowardly way of handling matters. Let us be patient and we shall see how Afghanistan becomes once more, a breeding ground for terrorists and extremism. No one looks forward to that, but it’s inevitable.
“Guess who is going to be the primary target? Qui va devoir payer les pots cassés? Never assume that we, seen as a couple of tiny dots on the map in the southwest Indian Ocean, will not pay dearly. Let us have no illusion. We will pay a hefty price, directly or indirectly.
“That is not to say that America should have stayed in Afghanistan for ever and ever. My question is rather ‘What were they doing there in the first place?’ Or again, could there not have been a more orderly and organised fashion to leave the country than a cowardly way ‒ in much the same way they did in 1975 in Vietnam?
“Remember the Kurds who were used and exploited to do America’s dirty work and then left to perish at the hands of Bachar al Assad!
“If I were to write a book on this issue, the title would be ‘The Art of Hypocrisy and Political Cowardice’.
“Philosophers would find plausible explanations to the events happening in the world today. I am not one. However, when we learn more about Covid, Ebola, SARS and others, and the rampaging wildfires, flooding and earthquakes, it is obvious that we, humans, are the main culprits whether we like to admit it or not.”
Winnifred Rose: “Yes. What is going on in Afghanistan is very disturbing because it is another piece of the 'collapse' of the world. This includes the loss of lives of innocent people, civilians and especially children.
“The US is pulling out its military support and people have different opinions about that; but soldiers have families and loved ones too...we can’t keep losing lives to cover the greed and selfishness of individuals who believe that power is everything.
“At the same time as a Christian I am not surprised by this and everything that is happening in the world and even spreading into Seychelles right now. The Revelation prophecies are enfolding in our faces and we need to 'bow down and confess'. As a Seychellois I am also concerned for my country because as a small island state living in this world as a 'global village' we cannot possibly be spared everything. We need to understand where we are and get busy being positive and tightening up our lives to face what's ahead because it is not getting better.
“My last words to my people in Seychelles and around the world "stop bothering about negativity, take good risks instead of uncertain gambling with the good things in life that come free such as love, life, peace of mind and family. Material things mean nothing anymore; Covid in itself has taught us enough in just a few months. It is time to 'return to innocence' and search our souls for the divine accomplishments; because time is precious now more than ever."
Daniel Hugelmann: “Yes, it has the potential for a humanitarian crisis, which could have probably been averted. I view this with pain, for all the suffering they cause. While earthquakes are inevitable, wars and climate-related disasters could well have been averted. These events are extremely worrying, especially those caused by global climate change.
“While now we look abroad at disasters in other countries, changing weather patterns and rising sea levels might one day well force us to turn our eyes back home. These are issues that we should prepare for, now. Additionally, all these events affect us indirectly, through tourism and our imported food sources being directly affected.
“We need to be preventive instead of reactive. We need to prepare our coastlines, ensure proper drainage on our hillsides. And become more self-sufficient in terms of our food supply, using more advanced technologies such as vertical farming and aquaculture.”
Norlis Rose-Hoareau: “The future of Afghanistan and its people really worries me. We know how it was 30 years back before the Americans intervened, the Sharia law was supreme, no respect of the liberty, dignity and choice of the people. Seeing the people of Afghanistan urgently want to leave their own country, I say there is a problem there. The international community should do something. The questions I ask myself are, did the Americans did what they were assigned to do? Was the Afghan army prepared for this day? Were they given the right training?”
Colette Brassel-Servina: “All worrisome realities. With Afghanistan I see history repeating itself inspite of what they say. Haiti never recovered from the last humanitarian crisis and now this. All attention and resources will be directed to these areas and climate change may cease to be a priority. Threat to our safety and security cannot be underestimated.”
Terry Moncherry: Yes I am. With the coronavirus situation people find opportunities to do good or bad things. As for the Taliban in Afghanistan they took the opportunity to take over when everyone is dealing with the corona situation in their country, so it is unlikely to receive help from other countries to stop them from taking over.
“As a Seychellois I see what is happening in the world and I take those as warning signs. Wherever you are in this world you are not safe. If we do not change the way we live there will be much worse to come in the near future. As a small nation, we should be very worried in many aspects ‒ economically, environmentally, globally and so on. If only 1% that is happening in the world hits Seychelles we will be crippled. My thoughts are, we only have limited time here on earth let's live our life together in harmony, let's all enjoy together and more than ever let’s come together as one people and one country and protect our home, the earth, and let’s do it for humanity.”
Alain de Commarmond: “I think all the world is disturbed by what is happening in Afghanistan. But the most important thing is the people of Afghanistan. It was very sad to witness the situation over the weekend – desperation of the Afghans and people boarding the plane out of fear. In the end it is a dramatic situation. I think the experience for the Afghans were very painful to them that is why people are leaving in fear. In their press conference two days later, the Taliban said things will be different, let’s hope people will be able to continue with their lives and do not live in terror.
“The various events around the world are very concerning because whatever happens in the Western world eventually have some impact directly or indirectly on us – smaller countries. For example, all the natural events are of concern, as they show that the call of small islands states regarding the lives of their people, the environment etc. are real. Probably now the bigger countries are seeing these events we have been talking about. The question is, will these events change the way all these countries view the impact of climate change and the need to take serious action? The other debate is financing. As small islands we are constrained by financial resources. History has showed us, the Western world has the financing and whenever there is a catastrophic event, they have the resources to recover from it and forget about it. For small islands states, it’s very different. For years we have been calling for finances for adaptation but when the big countries go through these challenges, it does put a strain on them thus reducing financing for development assistance.
“For Seychelles, considered a high income country, it is becoming more and more difficult to receive financing. Highly developed countries have made many pledges but have not been able to fully fulfil them. I think the world should finally feel strongly about the climate change call. Once and for all, countries should take serious actions in regards to their responsibility towards the environment.”
Compiled by Vidya Gappy
Fact check…
Timeline: The Taliban's rapid advance across Afghanistan
Taliban insurgents began entering Kabul on Sunday after taking control of all of Afghanistan's major cities apart from the capital.
The following are some of the major milestones in the Islamist militant movement's advance in recent months. Other deadly attacks occurred, some blamed on the Taliban and some on other jihadist groups including an offshoot of Islamic State.
Talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government on a political understanding that could lead to a peace deal, backed by the United States and its allies, failed to make significant progress.
● April 14 - President Joe Biden announces that US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan starting on May 1 and ending on September 11, 2021 bringing America's longest war to a close. It was an extension of the previous withdrawal deadline of May 1 agreed between the United States and the Taliban.
● May 4 - Taliban fighters launch a major offensive on Afghan forces in southern Helmand province. They also attack in at least six other provinces.
● May 11 - The Taliban capture Nerkh district just outside the capital Kabul as violence intensifies across the country.
● June 7 - Senior government officials say more than 150 Afghan soldiers are killed in 24 hours as fighting worsens. They add that fighting is raging in 26 of the country's 34 provinces.
● June 22 - Taliban fighters launch a series of attacks in the north of the country, far from their traditional strongholds in the south. The UN envoy for Afghanistan says they have taken more than 50 of 370 districts.
● July 2 - American troops quietly pull out of their main military base in Afghanistan - Bagram Air Base, an hour's drive from Kabul. It effectively ends US involvement in the war.
● July 5 - The Taliban say they could present a written peace proposal to the Afghan government as soon as August.
● July 21 - Taliban insurgents control about a half of the country's districts, according to the senior U.S. general, underlining the scale and speed of their advance.
● July 25 - The United States vows to continue to support Afghan troops "in the coming weeks" with intensified airstrikes to help them counter Taliban attacks.
● July 26 - The United Nations says nearly 2,400 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in May and June in escalating violence, the highest number for those months since records started in 2009.
● August 6 - Zaranj in the south of the country becomes the first provincial capital to fall to the Taliban in years. Many more are to follow in the ensuing days, including the prized city of Kunduz in the north.
● August 13 - Four more provincial capitals fall in a day, including Kandahar, the country's second city and spiritual home of the Taliban. In the west, another key city, Herat, is overrun and veteran commander Mohammad Ismail Khan, one of the leading fighters against the Taliban, is captured.
● August 14 - The Taliban take the major northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif and, with little resistance, Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar province just 70 km (40 miles) south of Kabul. The United States sends more troops to help evacuate its civilians from Kabul as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani says he is consulting with local and international partners on next steps.
● August 15 - The Taliban take the key eastern city of Jalalabad without a fight, effectively surrounding Kabul.
● August 15 - Taliban insurgents enter Kabul, an interior ministry official says, as the United States evacuate diplomats from its embassy by helicopter.
Compiled by Kim Coghill; Editing by William Mallard, Andrew Cawthorne and Frances Kerry for Reuters
On the Taliban's vision for governing Afghanistan
One of the things that they are very sensitive about is their failure to provide goods and services and manage and administer the country well during the 1990s.
So the Taliban want to do that better; they want development projects to occur. And because of that, they also want to maintain a relationship with the international community because they realise that they need the funding of the international community to be able to continue to provide those goods and services.
Will the Taliban rule be any different this time?
They also are aware of how their treatment of women and their support of terrorism and their harsh punishments gave them a very bad name.
So they have said in a variety of ways that they won't behave in this manner, that everyone will be treated properly and according to Islamic law. But it's unclear how much that is really going to occur.
On who's funding the Taliban
The Taliban's primary source of funding by the available evidence that's out there is coming from within Afghanistan. And so partly from taxing commerce, taxing people, going through various cities and through border posts, partly through the taxing of (American) contracts that used to be in existence ‒ but primarily through poppy, through taxing the growth of poppy. And that's a real benefit to them, because a lot of poor farmers can make money off poppy. They're happy to grow it, and it makes the poor farmers feel more allegiance to the Taliban.
They also do get some degree of monetary support from Pakistan and to a lesser extent Iran and Russia ‒ or at least they did ‒ but that's a minority. And they've also gotten support from international donors from the Middle East. But that also has been a minority of support.
Source: Gus Contreras and Patrick Jarenwattananon produced and edited this story for broadcast. CyrenaTouros adapted it for the web for https://www.npr.org
