Chapter 2 continues…

Thus ended the Taleban regime in 2001 and heralded a new era under the leadership of Hamid Karzai who was largely supported by the US and the rest of the international community.

5. CONFLICT AS A LOCAL AND PERSONAL PHENOMENON

Apart from conflict being a phenomenon common to Afghanistan’s contemporary history with high and low intensity wars, conflict happens to be a reality that every Afghan has to address on a daily basis. Conflict for most Afghans is normally deeply local and personal.

A study on the Trends in Local Conflicts show that Afghan understanding of conflict is broad, encompassing a much broader range of issues than many observers may accept, but it shows that conflict is part of almost all facets of life, in both rural and urban areas.

It shows that conflict for Afghans is not just about civilian issues that can be resolved through the police and courts or military issues such as the increasingly violent insurgency. It is a mixture of elements- and the experience and understanding of conflict in Afghan eyes is not limited merely to records of civilian casualties and suicide attacks.

Local conflict is a major concern for most local Afghans faced with informal and formal governance structures which struggle to find equitable and suitable resolutions as a result of the conflict and associated social changes according to the key findings of the paper. Local finding happens to be highly seasonal and associated with the key issues for most Afghans, their livelihoods- particularly land and water.

The conflicts that Afghans experience on a daily basis are rooted in their livelihoods and social relations. Conflicts over access to, or control of, land and water represent nearly half of the conflicts, followed by conflicts related to weddings/marriages, divorces and domestic violences. After land and water conflicts there are significant conflicts around debt and financial issues, marriage, divorce and domestic violence. Debt related conflicts are high in certain areas.

To be continued…