Good news!

Long waiting is over!

Venice a city on water and the home town of Marco Polo, is going to be cuddled by the melody of the Afghan music sounds to let every one feel the eastern world as near as inside their homes.

The city of Shakespeare’s plays is going to host Afghan artists to play and sing for them to let them feel the coming of spring and greenery and to make them touch the nature.

The surprise in this occasion is presence of Dawood Sarkhosh; the singer of hope, the singer of love, the singer of life and the singer of liberty who sings from the depth of his heart and enlivens millions of Afghans with his harmonious voice and unique lyrics.

While Sarkhosh sings, he knocks the doors of hearts, enters into the hearts, inspires every one and then let them think, let them dream and let them hope.

When he plays masterly pieces, with his Danboora* as a travel guide he takes every one to a journey of the central highlands of Afghanistan, to the land of the Giant Buddha Statue and let every one enjoy their presence in Hazarajaat with the sound of his music. That is what Dawood Sarkhosh is famous for.

All Afghans from different corners of Italy are getting together on 22 of March in this lively occasion to celebrate their New Year and to say that they want peace, security and justice in their country.

In addition to this concert, the sky of Venice is going to host many Afghan kites flown by the Afghans to share their happiness with the Italian society.

Through this occasion, the Afghans away from home, while hoping to fly these kites in the sky of their homeland one day, would thank the Italian society for hosting them in their difficult time, while the presence of the Italians in this occasion could mean that; as a part of the international community they are with the Afghans. Join us in this happiness if you can!

We provide you more photos of this occasion in the upcoming posts

Visit Dawood Sarkhosh HomePage

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The Community of the Afghan Artists in Italy is born

Da Kabul a Venezia!

Along with spring this year, the community of the Afghan Artists in Italy has announced its presence.

It is the second group of the Afghans who make such an association while the first one is the Cultural and Social Association of the Afghans in Italy that is based in Rome.

This new born community of the Afghan Artists as announced in their plans and activities, will be active in making films, documentaries, video reportage, holding conferences and seminars about Afghanistan and representing the Afghan Arts and Culture primarily in Italy and then in Europe level.

The first initiatives they made is conducting an Afghan Cultural Festival of Flying Kite and the concert of Dawood Sarkhosh in Venice which both take place in the Afghan New Year occasion 21- 22 March 2009.

This concert is supported by municipality of Venice and the Cultural and Social Association of the Afghans in Italy.

The next projects the Arts Community has are two film projects that are now in pre-production stage.

The members of the Artists Community are the, writers, filmmakers, producers, journalists and television programmers who fled Afghanistan for the serious risks they faced because of their cultural - artistic activities and exercise of freedom of speech in their war torn homeland.

We wish them success in their future activities of working for prosperity of Afghanistan.

We provide you with more updates on the activity of Afghan Artists Community in Italy in the upcoming posts. Hope to hear more about it soon

Click here to see the Blog of the Afghan Artists Community


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Baba Mazari in Paradise

Mazari through the arts of Bashir Bakhtiari, the Afghan caricaturist, graphic designer and filmmaker

When will another Mazari be born?

Written by Amin Wahidi

Who is Mazari?
His name is always written along with words like spring, greenery, tulip and rebirth as he left everyone to bring spring and greenery after him. He left us all alone just a few days before the spring, indeed he went to call the spring for us, and by the time he was in his destination the tulips were already smiling in the deserts of the homeland to celebrate his victory. He flew up but very soon, perhaps his mission was only to be a Moses for the Hazaras to rescue them from Pharaohs of the time towards liberty and freedom.


Mazari’s immortality
They killed him but he got more immortal. They took his life but he got everlasting.
They wanted to abolish him but he got evergreen. They suffocated his voice but his thoughts, and his soul was spread out everywhere.
Indeed they killed him not knowing they have planted his seeds for the rebirth of many other Mazaris as if God made this happening to change the history of a deprived and agonized nation.

When it happened
Exactly 14 years from now, 12 March 1995 many people in Afghanistan became orphans as their father was killed by the Taliban.
The Taliban killed Mazari and six of his adjutants and commanders in a brutal way while inviting them swearing on Holy Quran for peace negotiations.
Mazari was the first ever victim of fierceness of the fundamentalism and extremism in Afghanistan. He went and enlightened the world that the Taliban are the most dangerous threat for the whole world, for humanity, for the freedom and liberty and for all those who care about humanity, freedom and liberty. Mazari’s martyrdom left a message, a very clear message that was then a green light for the whole world; “the fundamentalism and extremism has no limits thus it has no border, when it is against humanity, then it is the responsibility of all humans in the world to stand against this critical enemy that threaten the whole world, until to eradicate it”, as now we see the result.

Mazari in west of Kabul
The three years of resistance of west of Kabul against the attacks of Sayaf, Rabani and Gulbudin is an unforgettable page in the history of Afghanistan in general, and for the Hazaras as the protagonists of the resistance in particular.
The Hazaras as a minor ethnic being always abased and underestimated by the “Big Brothers”, always being isolated from the main society body and sneered by the others for their appearances, their ethnic background, their ideas, their thoughts and they way they behaved in their daily lives in multi ethnic Afghanistan. But to know who Mazari was, what his role in the society of his time was and what are his influences on the contemporary Hazara generation and what image of him is remaining in the minds and hearts of the Hazaras of the world, it would be useful to review the general situation of the country and the condition of the Hazaras in a few paragraphs.

The pressures and oppressions against the Hazaras were indeed the continuity of the process of mass massacre of the Hazaras in 1880s – 1890s by Amir Abdul Rahman Khan and have been followed until 1980s by all governments and rulers as a part of governmental plans and strategies in a systematic process in the tribal Afghanistan which resulted the Hazaras suffer generation to generation from access to governmental offices, defend their civil rights, take part in social development process of the country and find a real home for themselves in the country, instead they were forced to do the very hard and abasing jobs such as porters, cleaners, servants, street vendors while only a few luckier ones could become shopkeepers, bakers or the highest drivers or were forced to flee the country.

Along the history, oppressions and unjust treatment of the governments such as violations of their civil rights, deprivation of them from higher education, prohibition of their enlistment in the military schools, prohibition of their employment in the government offices always kept them in hard and low profile jobs while they as a noticeable part of the society could have been utilized for the development process of the country if they were fairly treated with.

The Hazaras knowing their abilities, were sure if they were being treated with as equally as all other citizens of the country (other Big and Small Brothers) and would be given chances and opportunities they could play their positive roles in the society as in general they were known for their hardworking, honesty, sincerity and mental ingenuities but this dream could hardly be realized unless a man among them would seriously stand against all unfairness and put a big “NO!” to all wrong, unfair, and oppression-based structures being founded by the past oppressor rulers in the country.

This situation could result in taking them towards non existence if continued as time passed so therefore the Hazaras for long have been waiting just for a leadership to mobilize them to stand for their rights, advocate them and shout their voices to the government and to the world, this way the Hazara society got a pregnancy of a future leadership that had to come on a right time and to rescue them from non existence and abolishment.

While only for sometime in the late of 1980s the prime minister was Hazara and there were one or two other ministers from them in the communist cabinet but still was not enough for a big society. In this time the Hazaras were morally fortified and regained their historical self- confidence while on the other hand most part of the society were religious they would rather expect a non communist leader to stand for them, so there was a space for a religious leader to play a key leadership role among them. There is where Mazari is born to stand and shout for the equality, justice and fairness that resulted the rights of the Hazaras and he died saying;
“It is no more a crime to be a Hazara in this country.”

Actually Mazari was born with an expectancy period of more than two centuries therefore he was familiar with all pains and grieves of a nation that has been underestimated, ignored, prejudiced and oppressed for two centuries thus he came in this world for a short period on the right time to awaken his nation and flew up back smiling silently after completion of his mission leaving life lightening mottos and lively sensations as valuable heritages for the nation “We are nor the fond of face of a particular ethnic neither the enemies of the others, what only we want is justice and fairly and equally treatment with the all ethnics as the citizens of the country, that is how we all can live peacefully.”

After Mazari’s revolution in west of Kabul, in the practical lives of the nation, it is really no more crime to be a Hazara instead every one is proud to be a Hazara. After Mazari’s revolution there is no need to take a fake National ID card hiding one’s real identity as a Hazara in order to be safe from discriminations in the governmental offices. There is no need to be afraid or ashamed as one calls a person Hazara, because thereafter, this word has changed its meaning hundred percent.
Then it was very shameful to be called a Hazara, without calling a porter or a servant, the word Hazara was enough to mean that, because this word was actually equal to a porter, a coolie, servant in the terminology of the tribal Afghanistan while now after Mazari scarified himself for his nation, being a Hazara means being a proud and useful element of the society, being a Hazara means being a democrat, being a person believing in equality, being a revolutionary person fighting against discriminations, prejudice and human rights violations of any kind.
Mazari on that short period of time, practiced democracy in action while every one else among of the Jihadi leaders made fun of such words. Mazari believed and always emphasized that the best way of ruling the country is to hold a free and fair election in which the people would decide who be the president.

While every one else of the Jihadi leaders were thinking of how to fight, how to eliminate one another and remain on power, Mazari believed that the women as half part of the society should be given equal education and opportunities so that the social development would be accelerated more, while he was always in favor of equality of any kind rights among all the citizens of the country and finally died in this way.

The rivals of his time, the enemies of democracy and justice, who had controlled and media and press that were all the means for blackmailing and negative propagandas against him to destroy his personality, accused him to be a supporter of IRI while Mazari was the only person in the history of Afghanistan who slapped the Iranian ambassador in Kabul when they wanted to interfere in internal issues of Afghanistan, but non of all those cruel plots could destroy his constancy until he his mission was over and his messages were already delivered to his nation, so he left every one more popular than any leader in the history of Afghanistan.

Mazari is being honored and respected annually by the Hazaras in more than twenty countries of the world that is the strongest evidence for his popularity for the record of contemporary history. People mourn, cry and wail for Mazari, and they will tell their children about Mazari generation to generation as long as the world exists.

However, today even the rivals of yesterday come on his annual celebration and honor him when they feel regretful for what they did with Mazari, they cry and mourn for Mazari among the Hazaras to compensate their guilt and wash their sins by praying to God for Mazari’s soul.


Mazari “Baba” for the Hazaras
Today if Abraham Lincoln is being honored for his struggles for fairness and equality in America, if Mahatma Gandhi is given the most prestigious title by the Indians, if Nelson Mandela is the symbol of Anti- Apartheid struggles in the world, and if Martin Luther King is recognized and respected for his struggles for justice and equality, undoubtedly Mazari is also given the most prestigious title for his struggles “Baba”. Having given the title of “Baba” (father) to Mazari, today at least more than five million Hazaras around the world honor Mazari for his struggles against oppressions and systematic ethnic discriminations, and in every Hazara’s house you can find a Mazari’s photo on the wall as the symbol of their liberty and survival.

Mazari still smiles to his sons
Not a coincident, but juncture of the history, once the Buddha Statue was destroyed by them, then Mazari was killed by them as well, and today Mazari’s statue fills the absence of Buddha Statue in the heart of Hazarajaat, Bamyan.
No fear and no regret if the Buddha Statue of Bamyan is not reconstructed as long as today Mazari’s status is already standing there in Bamyan, and smiling towards his sons and his followers.

With Bonn conference agreement a part of Mazari’s dreams were realized
The new amendments in favor of oppressed and minorities took place in the administrative structure of the government through the Bonn Conference agreement in 2001 were parts of Mazari’s proposal for a better, peaceful and a prosperous Afghanistan.
The grand jirga, the free and fair elections and participation of women in the social- political process of the country were all Mazari’s proposals fifteen years ago while the other Jihadi leaders were igniting the fires of civil war.
As a matter of fact, therefore now the sons of Mazari have to boast for realization of parts of dreams of their martyred leader “Baba Mazari” in Bonn Conference Agreement.

Who is the real father?
Mazari in his speeches, mottos and all his actions never talked of betterment of a specific ethnic on the others but always talked of equality and fairness among all as the citizens of the country, but the Hazaras as the main survivors of oppressions by Mazari’s revolution, respect him as their father.
But now as a formality in the land of contrasts, “Zahir Shah” (the former king who died in 2007 after 29 years in exile) was imposingly being entitled “the father of the Nation” in the constitution, while in reality except his family members hardly one could be found to honor him as a father, while for Mazari without formality, this title is given by the hearts of more than five millions Hazaras of the world and every year in his martyrdom date every one comes, mourns and prays for his soul from the core of his heart, that is how the history is made!

Mazari's statue built by people in Bamyan

Annually millions of people honor Mazari in different parts of the world in his martyrdom anniversary

Baba Mazari's monument built in west of Kabul

Mazari's thomb in Mazar e Sharif a respected shrine for the Hazaras of the world

A Pashtoon Taliban: Where to blast?

A caricature sent by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan caricaturist, graphic designer and filmmaker

Let Obama know about the Pashtoon Racism in Afghanistan

Let’s use the opportunity to say the truth in order not to be shameful and regretful one day seeing the pages of history


Blogger’s note:
This article was written by Jafar Rezaie before Obama officially began his presidency so some of the points are referred to that time. Some parts of it are being translated as the strategies of the United States in Afghanistan are to be changed due to need of time. Therefore the main purpose of this article is to identify areas where could be considered for real changes in the new US strategies for Afghanistan. Undoubtedly among all other obstacles in front of stable peace, security and reconstruction in Afghanistan the ethnic racism and discrimination applied on the others by a limited group of people ruling the country has been bringing negative consequences in a multi ethnic and multi culture Afghanistan.

Written by Jafar Rezaie
Translated by Amin Wahidi

In the passed seven years, the International Community has assisted Afghanistan more than 22 billions (22 thousand millions) US Dollars. Although more than half of these international aids have been funded to Afghanistan through the NGOs but still Karzai Administration has been the main channel to give plans to the NGOs and prioritize the division of these aids per region or province. Undoubtedly twenty two billions is a tremendous amount and a big help for a poor country like Afghanistan but the main question so far is “where was this amount being spent?(in which parts of the country?)” While not based on an accurate statistic but even just with a short glance we can say that more than eighty percent of these aids are being spent only in sixteen Pashtoon provinces of the south, east and south western provinces of the country while only one percent of 22 Billion of foreign Aids, that makes 220 millions is not being spent in the Hazara areas.

Karzai Administration using the come- easy- go -easy foreign aids not only has strengthened the Pashtoons against the other ethnics of Afghanistan but also has established the Pashtoonization process of Afghanistan by gradually removing of the non Pashtoon officials from the governmental key positions.

The first structures that have been refined from the non Pashtoon ethnics, are the so called National Army and National Police which are indeed the ethnic army and ethnic police while whether has it been taken for granted by the non Pashtoon politicians or they do not dare to object against it.

It is more than seven years that the ethnicist administration under Karzai has been applying the Pashtoonization process of the power in Afghanistan without any problems and obstacles. It is to say as well that based on the old British policy of supporting the Pashtoon tribes, so far all the western powers have had conformity with it but now the victory of Barack Obama in the USA has brought a historical chance for the deprived or minor ethnicities of Afghanistan and it is on the Afghan intellectuals how to fight against prejudice and systematic racial discriminations in their country using the opportunities.

Barack Obama’s points of views have no similarity to George W. Bush’s who was a Texan Aristocrat. Obama a lawyer, writer and a struggler born in a poor family, and is familiar with words such as; poverty, discrimination and inequality. Barack Obama, moving to Chicago a capital city for the Blacks, has passed his youth there fighting against the racial discrimination. Before being a senator, Obama was a political activist fighting for the rights of the Blacks. Bringing these points here is just to remind that Barack Obama knows about the deceits of the racists. He knows as well how vulnerable is for a group as minority in a time when there is no justice and equality.

Obama can imagine very well, that in lack of civilization and liberty in a land where still the tribal ideology has role, where still Taliban are on power but only with different appearances, no rights are considered as human rights and minorities who are against such mainstream are always ignored or even victimized.

While it would be fool idea thinking that the US administration under Obama would think about the Hazaras, Uzbeks or under oppressed minorities, but it can be useful to let them know about the existing realities in the country so that when they think of their policies, it would help them face the realities.

As one of the ways, to help Obama administration for changes of policies and strategies in Afghanistan it is on us to write them about all existing realities without any fears from the corrupted officials and racial discriminators and propose solutions and alternatives for them.

As a primary signals for the this purpose I can think of two simple ways;

First; Obama’s electoral campaign has benefited from the modern technology communication mediums such as (email- SMS- Blog writing and websites) and it is said that Obama will still have strong public relations with the nation when entering into the White House and again these communication tools will be used a lot.
Therefore the Afghan intellectuals and the people fighting against unjust treatments and racial discriminations can use these tools to talk about the corruption, racial discriminations, inequality and the unfairly distribution of the foreign aids that are as equally dangerous for the country as the terrorism.

Second; As seen in the passed seven years, the Pashtoon Oppression on the others have resulted the blockage of reconstruction and development in certain areas where there were potentials available for progression.
Therefore the non Pashtoon political parties and political activists can demonstrate their objection against the Pashtoonization process of the country in a rally on 20 January when Obama is taking the presidency seat officially.
In this rally they can ask for the attention of the new US government on the fairly distribution and transparency of the foreign aids that come to Afghanistan.

See also:
Possibility acceleration of diverge in the Afghan government
Will Ramazan Bashardost be an Obama for Afghanistan?
Policing Afghanistan

Tha Hazaras abandon the National Army
When impossibles becomes possible

And now seven years after 9 /11 still ….
Mussolini Jr. can not tolerate a black leader in the White House

Visit Deedenow Cinema to know about the Updates on the Afghan Cinema
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Obvious Human Rights abuse in Greece

Based on a report by Basir Ahang a member of IFJ
Afghan Independent Refugee Journalist – Italy

As a result of political chaos the situation is getting worse in Afghanistan and there is almost no image of a hopeful and clear future for the country and for the citizens, therefore different categories of people suffer directly or indirectly from the uncertain situation.

Many people flee the country to survive, among whom there are intellectuals as well who have almost finished the energy to resist against the on going situation and had no choice except feeling the country.

Some abandon Afghanistan to return, to the neighboring countries such as Iran or Pakistan where they have been living during the cold war and the civil war. Others, who can, make efforts to reach to the European countries where they think their voice would be heard as victims of war and they would live in peace under the protection of the European countries but what they face is sometimes worse than what was going on in their country and totally in contrast with all propagandas regarding human rights definitions that is shout out to the world through the media.

For the people aiming to reach to the European countries as the safest place for them, it is a gamble of life and death to travel miles of distances, cross mountains and oceans to reach to the shores of peace and safety while on the other hand if they do not flee their country no body assures the primary security of their lives.

People escaping Afghanistan, first they cross the border of Iran and then go to Turkey and then the third point and their entry point to the lands of safety is Greece.

Crossing these Iran and Turkey in order to reach to a third safe country is not out of perils and when they reach to Greece if they are not deported back violently, they are being very badly treated with.

Greece as a port of peace and safety for the refugees, hosts thousands of Afghan immigrants, asylum seekers among the other foreigners who look for safety but unfortunately how the Afghans are being received in this country is reported to be very bad.

Lately Basir Ahang the Afghan refugee journalist in Italy had a trip to Greece together with other Italian journalists to make a report on the lives of the Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in this country.

As reported by Basir Ahang, the situation of the refugees is critical and there is need of serious attention by the International organizations working on refugees’ issues.

What Basir Ahang has reported is mainly obvious misuse of human rights by the Greek police and other governmental officials against the Afghan immigrants and Asylum seekers in Greece.

Most of the asylum seekers and the refugees sleep on roads and under bridges for not being provided with a shelter neither by the government of Greece nor by the other organizations working for the refugees.

Many people are being infected with diseases for the lack of health care and medical services for them neither by the government of Greece nor by the other organizations.

Asylum seekers and refugees face fierce physical violence by the Greek police on daily basis and even some people have lost parts of their body as a result of physical violence.

The physical violence and misbehavior by the Greek police caused many people face psychological problems and suffer mental disorders.

Therefore, we urge the urgent and serious attention of EU, UNHCR, ICRC, and all International Human Rights organizations to help these people in this critical situation, otherwise many people would die for lack of serious of attention of the officials.

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The Robots produced by different countries

A caricature sent by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan graphich designer, caricaturist and filmmaker

Taliban School in a Taliban Educational System

A caricature by Atiq Shahid, Afghan caricaturist


This is a Taliban Classroom in a Taliban school.
This is a school that teaches the innocent children voilence, killings and terror.
They misuse the humans to kill other humans.
Karzai has always been trying to negotiate with the founders of this educational system.
Karzai has always wished the Taliban were his soldiers.

(Becareful it has violence scene!)
Click here to see the first position student of this school

Karzai and electoral bullfighting

In Kabul – Some of the Afghan political leaders on Sunday accused President Hamid Karzai of trying to "sabotage" the country's presidential election after he asked the election commission to explore moving the vote up four months.

Karzai released a decree Saturday directing the commission to set an election date that adheres to the Afghan constitution, which calls for a vote 30 to 60 days before May 22, when Karzai's five-year term expires.

Following Karzai's decree on presidential election time, a spokesperson in the American Department of State has declared that respecting the logic and reasons President Karzai has for the constitutionally on-time election , but due to security reasons the US government would support the election time that was before purposed by the AIEC (August 20 2009) in which the Afghans would be able to vote under more security.

The commission previously set the vote for Aug. 20, saying an election could not be held sooner because of security concerns, heavy spring snows in the Afghan mountains and ballot distribution issues.

Lawmakers have said they would not recognize Karzai as president after May 21, meaning the country faces a potential constitutional crisis come spring.

But Afghan political leaders were not happy with Karzai's gambit to move up the vote, either.
The spokesman for the National Front, a group of opposition group, said it would be impossible to hold elections in the spring because of security, logistical and financial issues, but he called Karzai's move an attempt to "sabotage" the vote.

It has been said by different people involved in the election process that may be, it would be the best time for Karzai to use in influences on the election result as long as he has the governmental tools and powers.

As of the current situation and the miscommunication and lack of harmony in between the two governments in critical decision makings, it is speculated that the Karzai - Obama relations are not repaired yet although recently there were news of mutual collaborations from both sides were given out by the media.

The Afghan US relations broke and got worse after Barak Obama criticized Karzai administration for corruption and insufficiency during his electoral campaign, while Karzai thereafter began to accuse the foreign troops for violating the laws of war and killing the innocent civilians in Afghanistan. The other stronger demand Karzai has so far made to challenge the International Community US at the top, was a time line for the end of this Anti Terror Campaign in Afghanistan.

During his electoral campaign, the way Obama got advantages from criticizing the weak Afghan Administration under Karzia, now Karzai does the same thing, these days while preparing him for the coming election. Karzai on the other hand by criticizing the foreign troops and the US Anti terror war strategies , misleading the people against the western countries especially the US just to re gain his gone - with - the - wind popularity to draw a self portrait of a national hero so gain votes and remain on power for another term at least, which will cost the USA a lot.

Let's see how the consequences of such electoral bullfighting will effect the country's political condition.

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An open letter from the people of Afghanistan to Barack Obama

The people of Afghanistan write an open letter to President Barack Obama regarding the upcoming presidential election in Afghanistan.

As an Afghan to send this letter, you open Kabul Press.Org to sign and send it to President Obama.

Where is this man hiding?

Is there any idea, when Osama Bin Laden will be caught by the US forces?

A caricature by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan graphic designer, caricaturist and filmmaker.

Is it easy to buy aircrafts?

Written by Razaq Mamoon
Translated by Amin Wahidi

Recently, president Karzai threatened the western countries especially theUS officials through unexpected statements; “if you don’t give us tanks and aircrafts we get them (or buy them) from the others.”

Although president Karzai has not made it clear in his statements whether he gets or buys the heavy armaments from another country. In the international markets a single military helicopter costs about seven million US Dollars while tanks and other heavy weapons cost too much as well.

There is a big difference between “to get” and “to buy” tanks and aircrafts. If in this case, it is the matter of “buying” heavy armaments, where will the government find the budget for such purchasing while even the annual ordinary budget of the Afghan government is still relying on the international funds and foreign aids?

If it is the case of “getting” such heavy armament, which country is ready to provide all these weapons to protect Karzai administration and to build the Afghan National Army when the root of every war relied on “money”, “energy” and “interests” in the current world.

Which country is generous enough to protect and reinforce the Afghan National Army?

Mr. President should clarify it to the Afghan people where does he bring the money to get or buy the heavy weapons he talked about and which country he is buying these heavy weapons from?

If we assume, the money is provided by one country and the heavy weapons are purchased from another, Mr. President has to clarify which country provides and fund and which one sells its heavy weapons?

It is not yet clear that in spite of having more than forty consultant ministers and sixteen mentors why Mr. President makes such meaningless statements which could have negative political consequences for him as well as for the country.

Mr. Karzai has to make it clear that if these aircrafts and heavy weapons are purchased without consent of the western countries especially the United States of America,which direction are they going to enter the Afghan aerial borders and on which airfield are they going to land?

The air and the land in Afghanistan are in the hand of forces of the countries that are being apposed by Karzai nowadays. If we expect a miracle to import these aircrafts from another planet or from a space station into Afghanistan, how would they be used by the Afghans? In reality all the land bases, air bases as well as airfields of Afghanistan are in the hands of the international forces.

It would be better if President Karzai first ask, his mentors and consultants which weapons are most used in Afghanistan considering its geographical and indications of type of war in this country.
Considering the ongoing and the passed guerrilla wars in Afghanistan, if the heavy weapons had been proved to be useful, neither the Red Army with their different types of heavy armaments would have been defeated by the guerrilla fighters nor the present international forces of more than forty countries would have been confused in this war.

If the Afghan government has access to adequate heavy weapons, what would it change? If only the military option could be the real solution of the problems, what have thousands of international forces been able to do yet? What could only come out of Karzai’s statements is that “instead of the international forces, we ourselves want to bombard the civilians by getting aircrafts and tanks”, nothing else.

President Karzai may have forgotten that according to the Agreement made in Bonn Conference for Afghanistan in 2001; Afghanistan is not allowed to purchase weapons from Russia.
Consisting on this issue by Karzai may cause the violation of Bonn Agreement as well as the rage of the Afghan people as it is in contrast with their national interest.

But more likely it seems that such statements could be a kind of political play by Karzai for his electoral campaigns to warn NATO and USA that he can still pressure them by any means to remain on power for another presidential term.

The United States of America has not reached to give heavy weapons to the Afghan Army. The USA would not this easily spread its weaponry technology in Afghanistan. We should not forget that in the 1980s during the cold war the American government of the time provided hundreds of Stinger Missiles for Mujahedeen groups and then latter had to collect some of them back, paying tremendous amounts of money.
The American government does not dare to share their advanced weaponry technologies with the Afghans as they do not trust them fully yet.
Where are the hundreds of Stingers Missiles that were provided by the Americans to Mujahedeen groups; no body can explain which groups and which countries own them now.

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Is Satanic Power bahind the Taliban?

Why do they kill themselves?
Why do they kill the innocent people?
Do they know anything except killing and destruction?
Does a killer go to paradise?
Will people support government’s negotions with them?

A caricature sent by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan caricaturist, graphic designer, and filmmaker

Karzai turns 180°

Written by Mohammad Akram Andeshmand
Translated by Mohammad Amin Wahidi


Karzai and celebration of Independence Reclamation Day
In one of meetings of ministers’ council in the summer 2003 which was chaired by Hamid Karzai, the ministers discussed the celebration of Afghanistan independence reclamation day from the British colonizers. Karzai in that meeting began the discussion with anger and critics. He said; “what does it mean, independence reclamation? What have our forefathers achieved by this independence? The British colonizers went and our homeland still remained ruined, while on the other side of Duran border*, many changes came in the presence of the British, they brought railways, they asphalted their roads and brought electricity power for them, and we are happy to got independence and celebrate it!”
Such statements by the president about the Afghan independence shocked some of the ministers. Among them, Arif Noorzai the minister of border and tribal affairs (on that time) and a relative of Karzai from Kandahar who fought against the Taliban with Masoud was more upset and felt abased among the others.
He angrily said to Karzai; “Karzai Saheb! No need to be worried a lot! Now also there are a lot of foreigners (British and Americans), and they are just beside the presidential Arg*, you can use the chance and bring railway, electricity power etc by them now. The other ministers also had other points of view and the discussion on the independence reclamation celebration finished by noon.

Let him know!
After the long discussion in the ministers’ council on the celebration of independence reclamation day from the Britain, Mr. President was the host of his cabinet member for the lunch in the garden of the presidential Arg.
Every one was eating and there was almost a silence. Suddenly there was a voice and asked Mr. President: “Karzai Saheb! What is your difference with King Shuja and Babrak Karmal?” It was Akbar the minister of refugees’ repatriation who asked the question in Pashto language. Karzai quacked, facing with a non-expected question by a minister of his cabinet, he kept silent for a while and then told Arif Noorzai in Pashto; “Aref, let him know!”

Worse than King Shuja and Babrak Karmal
In August 2008, in the president Arg, before some members of parliaments President Karzai admitted that he was worse than King Shuja and Babrak Karmal.
He told the MPs that he was worse than King Shuja and Babrak Karmal; “Look, how the foreigner forces, bombard our innocent civilians, kill our innocent women and children but I cant stop them doing it. The British did the same, during Kingdom of Shah Shuja, and the Russians did it during the presidency of Babrak Karmal. The British and the Russians killed civilians in this land but nor Shah Shuja neither Babrak Karmal could stop them. Today I am worse than them. Whatsoever they want, they do in this land. Will it be going the same?”

A criticizing language against the foreigners
While Karzai admits his weakness about stopping what the foreign troops do in the country when talking with the members of parliament but in the outer appearance before media he uses a threatening and criticizing language against the foreign forces.
His criticizing tone against the west has been increasing after the victory of Barak Obama in the United States presidential election and after his last trip to the United States in last November.
In 26 November 2008 when meeting the UN security councils delegates to Kabul, for the first time, president Karzai asked seriously for a timeline to end the anti terror war in Afghanistan. In fact a timeline to end the anti terror war means a time for the return of thousands of American and other western countries troops from Afghanistan to their countries, while before this, he was always talking on the need of presence of the foreign troops in Afghanistan without a limited and specified time line.

In 27 November 2008, Karzai criticized the operation of the international forces in Afghanistan and called this war, an ambiguous war against the terror while speaking in a joint press conference with the NATO secretary general Japp De Hoop Scheffer
in Kabul. There once again Karzai emphasized on negations with the Taliban especially with Mullah Omar. And then later in 18 January 2009, Japp De Hoop Scheffer
stated that the corruption of the Afghan government under Karzai leadership has the same effect to insecure the country as the Taliban have.

Expansion of anti foreigner sensation within the chain of Karzai government
Criticizing the foreigners is not limited only to Mr. President but has expanded to a team in his government.
Coincidently with the change in Karzai’s mood of talking about the international troops, the minister of information and culture also began to take position against the foreigners. In the last week of November when Karim Khoram appeared before the senate, he stated that the media law has been influenced by the foreigners and the pressures of the foreign ambassadors to impose their own views and policies on the Media law in Afghanistan.

The first demonstration against the foreigners in Kabul
While Karzai team’s criticizes had already increased against the foreigners, using a new policy this team organized a demonstration in front of UNAMA office in Kabul in 26 November 2008.
The demonstrators asked for end of the war, cessation of victimizing the civilians in air strikes and bombardments and they demanded the recompenses for the people killed under the air strikes of the international forces.
They put all their demand in a manifest* which were handed to the UNAMA officials.
In this manifest, the demonstrators emphasized on negations with the Taliban and asked the Afghan government to allege in an International court against the killers of the civilians. Without a doubt, this demonstration was a part of organized efforts of Karzai government to put pressures on the international community especially the United States of America.

Mr. President’s motives
After victory of Obama in the presidential elections of the United States, Karzai began to criticize the policies of the United States of America in Afghanistan. His tone has changed especially after his last trip to the United States when Obama denied meeting him. Most of the analysts believe that Karzai has no more chance to be president again, as the support of by the American government under Obama leadership is decreased.
It is even said that Joe Byden the current American vice president, has asked Karzai to resign. Even Mrs. Clinton before talking the responsibility of Foreign Ministry, when called Afghanistan as a weak country effected with corruption.

At the same time of Joe Byden’s trip to Kabul, the NATO secretary general talked about the insufficiency and corruption of the Afghan government and in Washington post and he wrote in an article that “ The Afghans want a government that merit and worth their confidence and allegiance”. Although Karzai reacted intensely to NATO secretary general statements, he referred the corruption to the NGOs and the foreigners, while he may have forgotten that instead of supporting Ramazan Bashardost in his campaign against corruption, he forced Bashardost to resign from Planning Ministry.

The NATO secretary general and the new governing team in the White House both have almost the same points of views about Karzai government. In its last analysis about the next Afghan presidential Elections, The British Daily “Independent” of 23 January 2009 wrote “Obama comes and Karzai goes!”
Karzai knows very well that without the support of the western countries United States at the top, he has no more chance of remaining on power, thus he has applied a new policy that is denounce the operation of the international forces and it has two goals; first he wants to frighten Washington and to get gavel from Washington to remain on power, and the second goal is to find a heroic place for him among the Pashtoons of the south who are the supporter of the Taliban. But will he achieve his goals?!

Karzai and the ways to remain on power
Karzai’s efforts to remain on power are not only limited to a critical language against the foreign troops. His continues negotiations with different figures and personalities such as Jihadi leaders, former warlords and political parties to get their support for the next elections are other efforts to remain on power. It seems that to some extend he has influenced The National Front to have some of their members with him. Marshal Mohamad Qasim Fahim is heard to have agreed to be one of the vice presidents or a minister in his cabinet. On the other side, except their leader, most of the members of Hezb e Islami are already within the government which is another part of Karzai’s plans. At the same time, Karzai is to begin face to face negations with the Hezb e Islami Leader Gulbudeen Hekmatyar as well as with the Taliban, which is being facilitated by Saudi Arabia.

Release of Abdul Rashid Dostum from a household imprisonment and then inviting him and Akabar Bai by Farooq Wardak was another effort to have the support of Dostum as well in the coming election.

In spite of hearing disappointing music from the White House, Karzai is still hopeful to get support of the new American government. He believes the American would not ignore him this soon, after investing on him for seven years, while finding a better successor for Karzai would not be an easily job for Obama’s administration.

Barack Obama and a replacement for Karzai
If the new American government under Obama leadership wants to remove Karzai from power, who would they support to replace him?

There are three political activists one of whom could be a replacement for Karzai as they are being discussed by the Afghan analysts and the US officials; Ali Ahmad Jalali, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. Although Abdullah Abdullah has not officially announced his preparations for presidential election but Jalali and Ahmadzai have both announced their readiness for the coming election.
Abdullah Abdullah a close friend of Masoud, an active and realistic political figure of anti-Taliban resistance time, would not enter this competition without the consent of other members of the resistance front. On the other hand, the national front does not have the capability to introduce a single candidate, and every one in this front makes efforts for their personal and individual interests. If the White House is to remove Karzai and support another person to replace him, Ali Ahmad Jalali has more chance to win in the coming election. Their getting together has been an easier arrangement for the American officials to replace Karzai. In this composition, Abdullah would be considered as the first vice president while Jalali would be considered as the president and Ahmadzai would be considered as the minister of finance. Realization of this composition makes it easier for the US government to bring changes in the Afghan administration but still there are two questions here which would be answered by passage of time; “will Ahmadzai step down from for Jalali as his minister?” and will the United States under Obama’s leadership help to bring change in Afghanistan by supporting another person rather than Karzai in the coming presidential election?


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Mullah Trojan the strongest virus against peace, security and justice in Afghanistan

A caricature sent by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan caricaturist, graphic designer and filmmaker

Afshar massacre a sear on the hearts of thousands

graphic work by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan graphic designer, caricaturist and filmmaker

Written by Amin Wahidi

What happened in Afshar
Today, when the Afghans are awaiting accountability and justice to cure their wounds with, 11th of February 2009 the sixteenth anniversary of the massacre day of Afshar that took place in 1993 adds another emphasis on the importance of peace and justice for the nation. And now in the era of a so called democracy in the country, even sixteen years after the massacre of Afshar in west of Kabul where hundreds of innocent civilians were killed by the soldiers of Sayaf, Masoud and Rabani misfortunately there are still spaces for all those who committed this massacre; an obvious anti-human action.

The consequences of Afshar massacre
Now after sixteen years, still people are found who miss their dearest ones in Afshar; among the survivors still there are sons who are grown now, but they have never seen their fathers since the Afshar massacre, and there are mothers who are day and night glancing at the door, awaiting a chance of seeing their sons coming back home who went in captivity in Afshar.

Still there are women, who have seen their daughters being raped before their eyes and since no one have helped them to gain justice they gone to craze thereafter.

Among the survivors still there are mothers, who go dead crying when they see children because their infants were shot dead before their eyes in Afshar by the people who share the same country, who call themselves Afghans, who say they are Muslims and holy war fighters; but in Afshar they rape women, they loot people’s wealth and they never hesitate to kill neither infant nor the elderly only it was enough to be Hazara.

When you walk in the streets of Afshar, every single brick has things to say, every corner has stories to share and every clod smells of blood; blood that was shed for nothing except for the thirst of power. The innocence of the civilian victims is an evidence of the fact.

Years pass, wind blows and still blood stinks in Afshar streets, but nothing is done practically to bring justice for the victims and the survivors, only the pages of history remembers is as an event that occurred in a period of time but no matters how human rights were violated and who many people were killed. If we do nothing to bring justice for people the only page of history about Afshar can also be blown by the wind of time and what shall we say to our next generations about it? Are we not responsible?!

What can be done hereafter?
One of the obstacles on the way of bringing justice for the people is created by the people. Most people believe, there will be a resurrection day to do the judgment on who did what, but then it will be too late when every one is dead. Therefore it is always taken for granted to follow up such cases.
The other obstacle is the non existence of a point where people would refer to and submit their petitions there is no point where their voice is heard therefore they can not act for the justice alone.
It is the responsibility of the intellectuals to let the people know about where to refer and what to do for brining justice.

First the people should be told that, why the oppressors and human rights violators shouldn’t be prosecuted and penalized in this world, for what they did against humanity while there are courts and people to help.

Who can be pioneer for this mandate?
Committed journalists and researchers could be pioneer group for this mandate.
The journalists and researchers can do the research; find eye witnesses of the massacre among the victims and survivors, interview them and complete evidences and proves for a comprehensive report for the International Criminal Court.
And this court then would launch their own proceedings for the follow ups of the cases.
That could be a step, a very hard step to help the people find justice and peace and in their lives.

And what is the role of the people to bring justice for them
In the current situation, when the whole governmental system is drowning into corruption in Afghanistan, “justice” seems to be a meaningless word in the contemporary glossary of the Afghan people.
People seem to be reluctant and hopeless to pursue the cases in which their primary human rights were violated.
Even through the so called democracy during the post Taliban government as the evidences show, people have no more hopes to see the real justice they sought, because what all they expected turned the vice versa. The people who committed crimes against humanity in the past not only were not prosecuted but instead they were all promoted and empowered in different positions by the government and thus no voices were heard and there was no where to shout for people.

As a practical way of judgment and accountability of the governmental rulers, the elections can be a chance for people to judge the rulers by their votes based on what they have seen in their lives through the years of each government. So the primary tool they have to bring justice in their lives is their votes if first the conductive quality of elections is guaranteed, second if they are provided with the physical and moral security before and during the elections, they would definitely use their votes for their turning point.

If the upcoming elections will not be sacrificed by the internal, regional and global political games and by the influences of the warlords, human rights violators and drug traffickers, the people would vote for their ideal candidate who has a clear and transparent background, no connections to human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the past. This could be a primary towards peace and justice.

Read more in detail about Afshar Massacre

About Afshar Massacre in Google

About Afshar Massacre by Human Rights Watch

Afshar Operation wikipedia

Afshar by Hazaranet

Afshar massacre in BBC

Afshar massacre in Afghanistan justice project

About Afshar massacre in RAWA website

Afshar massacre

War criminals of Afshar massacre

Afshar Massacre

Justice for Afghans

Afghans await justice

The Afghans need justice
Another massacre of the Hazaras by the Kuchies

Genocide of the Hazaras by the nomad Taliban

People and war criminals 1

People and war cirminals 2

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The brain-washed mentality of the Taliban

A caricature sent by Bashir Bakhtiari, Afghan caricaturist, graphic designer and filmmaker

Karim Khoram a virus for freedom of speech in Afghanistan!

A caricature, sent by Mehdi Bakhtiari, Afghan caricaturist and graphich designer

email: mahdi.bakhtiari@yahoo.com