“There are great opportunities to make a difference”

Seeing the mountains surrounding Kabul as we came in to land brought a warm feeling to my chest. It had been twelve years since I was last in the Afghan capital, and landing felt a little like returning to a second home.

Much was familiar, yet travelling through the city felt very different. The last time I lived in Kabul, the cityscape changed for the worse with every passing month. Roads were blocked by huge concrete blast walls. Sandbags lined the streets, hiding trees and building façades. The feeling of living in a fortress grew stronger by the day. Now, through the car window, I saw a city filled with street stalls, trees, chaotic traffic and people constantly on the move.

For a week, I had the privilege of visiting Kabul and Kandahar together with Secretary General Kajsa Johansson and our colleagues at the Kabul office. We met representatives of the authorities, international aid organisations and diplomats, but above all Afghan women and men working to build a future in Afghanistan – in civil society organisations, businesses and think tanks. Naturally, perspectives and opinions differed, and it is difficult to sum up the situation in a single, coherent picture. But a few conclusions stand out clearly:

First, we are very welcome. Representatives of the authorities in Kabul and Kandahar, our partner organisations, donors, and all the Afghan women and men we met want to see more of us – both our humanitarian and development work and our dialogue.

Second, women are being suppressed, but they are not defeated. During the years of the Islamic Republic, women fought for greater opportunities, with political reforms on their side but patriarchy, corruption and war working against them. Under the Emirate, they face both political restrictions and patriarchy, but corruption is somewhat less pervasive and security has improved. The situation is often appalling, but the women we met firmly refuse to see themselves as victims. With dignity and determination, they seek opportunities, protest and try to find ways around absurd rules and regulations.

Third, there are great opportunities to make a difference. Despite the enormous needs and all the challenges created by the regime’s policies, there are also opportunities. The Afghans we meet and see are not passively bowing their heads under increasing poverty and repressive policies. People are trading, building, studying and travelling everywhere. Sometimes openly, sometimes out of sight, Afghan problem-solvers are constantly finding ways around seemingly hopeless circumstances and oppressive rules.

The debate within the ruling circles is not uniform. Even under an authoritarian system of government, political debate and discussion take place. Political differences are significant, and those pushing for change have certainly not been silenced. Those who want to close Afghanistan off from the outside world are being strongly challenged by those who want greater openness – for trade, economic development and the exchange of ideas.

So let us join forces with those who want greater openness. Let us not be horrified by the situation and turn our backs on the Afghan people. Instead, let us stand side by side with those Afghans who want to build a better future in Afghanistan.

TORBJÖRN PETTERSSON
Chair, Solidarity Committee