Progress and Pitfalls of “Peace-Building”

in Afghanistan continues....

This gathering would select a transitional head of state and seek to establish a broad-based, Interim Government

(IG) to administer the country for a period not exceeding two years, during which time preparations will be made for nation-wide elections. Itwas expected that Muhammad Zahir Shah, the former king of Afghanistan would preside over this commission. Thirdly, that no longer

than 18 months after the IG assumes power, a second Loya Jirga will be

held to draw up a new constitution, until which time the 1964 constitution, implemented by the former king, will be reinstated.

The IG would also seek to establish, through consensus, a Central bank, Supreme Court and other essential institutions necessary for the rebuilding of the Afghan polity. One of the central tasks of the Interim Administration, with one of its central tasks being to convene an emergency Loya Jirga to appoint an 18-month-long Transitional Administration to pave the way for holding a general elections for the creation of a popularly-mandated regular government.

In the meantime, while the US established its bases in the country to stamp out the remnants of the Al Qaeda and the Taleban, an International Assistance Security Force (ISAF) was deployed in Kabul to protect the government and maintain security in the capital. Institutional arrangements and power-sharing

Institutional arrangements and power-sharing appear as important

components of process of any political transition towards democratization.

Institutional arrangements should be such that opposing group interests can be accommodated to prevent recurrence of

violence. Successful democracy in divided societies is embodied in the

sharing of executive power and group autonomy.

Incentives for cooperation in bridging group differences are provided by proportional representation of diverse ethnic and political groups at various levels of government. The Bonn Agreement named Hamid Karzai, a prominent Pashtun leader and relative of the former king, as Chairman of the IA. The 30-member strong cabinet, which had been carefully selected to reflect the country’s diverse ethnic backgrounds, included eleven Pashtun, eight Tajiks, five Hazara, three Uzbeks and three members of other unspecified minority groups.

To be continued....