The Challenges to Nation-Building

in Afghanistan continues...

Although the post-Taleban government have voiced concern about

these returning refugees and has welcomed all returning Afghans irrespective of their ethnicity, genuine problems remain on the ground.

The new constitution of 2004 does not have any special provision for

repatriating refugees. However, it has recognized all individuals living in  Afghanistan, irrespective of their ethnicity to be Afghans and it can be

derived that all returning Afghans will enjoy equal rights and privileges.

The Afghan repatriation programme can only be successful if political

stability can be sustained over a long period of time. Apart from that the

economic and social sectors have to be revived. Moreover human and

institutional security have to be guaranteed for which a national police

and armed force is a necessity. There should be an international effort to

reintegrate former armed recruits of different factions into civilian society.

All this is strongly connected to sustained political commitment and

economic support from global actors. Moreover more active diplomatic

intervention by the United Nations and regional organizations is in the

long- term interest of all governments.

Hence there is a need for a comprehensive and humane approach to

deal with refugee crises all over the world.

The international financial

institutions that play an important role in determining the economic

policies of low-income and conflict-affected countries have to be drawn into the process. In Afghanistan a triple transition from war to peace,

from autocracy to democracy and from criminalized to market economies

is difficult to achieve. And in its transitional process it might be caught up

in a cycle of violence, poverty and mass displacement again. Therefore, an

effective repatriation policy will have to be coordinated along with the

political, social and economic development of the country.

To be continued...