The major reason for the fall of the republic is the failure to implement transitional justice
By: Dr.Phil.Najibullah Anwar
The fall of the Republic in Afghanistan is a complex phenomenon involving multiple factors. Besides issues like widespread administrative corruption, lack of unity, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and behind-the-scenes conspiracies, one major reason that is often overlooked is the role of foreign forces in restoring criminals, thieves, traitors, and betrayers to power.
This is one of the significant and sensitive points in Afghanistan's political history. After the fall of the communist government, the jihadist leaders did not perform well during their five-year rule and had many failures. In September 2001, the return of the Afghan jihadist parties and technocrats from the West with the support of Westerners was a major blow to the Afghan people. This return, instead of creating stability and peace, due to the corruption and incompetence of these leaders, led to the emergence of new and deeper problems.
When criminals, thieves, traitors, and spies take power in a country, peace, tranquility, and progress cannot be expected. This well-known saying applies to Afghanistan as well. Such conditions led to the loss of people's hope for a bright future and paved the way for the Taliban's return. One of the biggest mistakes was bringing back individuals who were already known for their corruption and criminality. If, instead of these individuals, righteous and patriotic figures had come to power, the situation in Afghanistan might have been better.
In January 2002, when Karzai and his cabinet visited Washington D.C. and gave a speech at Georgetown University, my friend Rahim Barakzai and I pointed out to a Washington Post reporter (Washington Post, January 28, 2002) that bringing these individuals back to power was a great injustice to the Afghan nation. Now, more than twenty years later, this prediction has come true, and the Republic has failed.
In this very serious interview, it was said that without transitional justice, Afghanistan would not see progress and peace. Many countries that have experienced war have only been able to establish peace and stability after implementing transitional justice. For example, in Germany after World War II, the Nuremberg Trials played a crucial role in establishing peace and laying the groundwork for economic progress. This transitional justice helped society achieve peace and build the foundations for sustainable development.
In Afghanistan, too, if a process of transitional justice had been properly implemented, the situation might have been different, and the substantial aid from the U.S. and the West would have led to more desirable outcomes. Without implementing justice and prosecuting criminals, corruption and incompetence persisted, and the Republic could not succeed. The purpose of transitional justice is not to perpetuate the bloodshed of criminals, as transitional justice generally involves a set of measures and processes designed to address war crimes, human rights violations, and compensation for damages. These measures can include prosecuting perpetrators of crimes, establishing truth commissions, compensating victims, and efforts to rebuild trust and achieve national reconciliation.
