United States' President Barack Obama recently launched a new Af-Pak
(Afghanistan and Pakistan) strategy, and it is already being criticized by none
other than Senator John Kerry, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. He recently returned from the region and told USA Today
that the Obama administration's plan was "not a real strategy".
Kerry even wants to go so far as to eliminate the term "Af-Pak" altogether
because of the way it links the two governments, something that both
Afghanistan and Pakistan oppose.
Given this turmoil, the time is right for bold new proposals to be presented.
Beyond the dangerous talk of a "receptive" Taliban, and the need to "bring more
tanks, quickly" - credit the Canadians
for this one. The US and its allies should urge the Afghan people to give
serious consideration to re-drawing the map of Afghanistan.
A nationwide dialogue in Afghanistan must commence about the benefits and
advantages of creating a new capital. It is a sound idea because keeping Kabul
as the capital is no longer acceptable. Resolving this conflict is made more
difficult by what amounts to a lingering yet significant structural and
institutional impediment.
Let's face it, a symbol of hope is badly needed in Afghanistan, and the entire
process leading up to the actual building of a new capital in a more central
part of the country might serve that purpose well.
Take a quick glance at the map of Afghanistan. You can see immediately why
Kabul does not measure up. An effective seat of government - a truly central
government - in a country where travel is a time-consuming affair at best even
in peaceful times demands a far more suitable site for a capital.
A new site for the capital must be found, somewhere far to the west of Kabul.
Kabul is not cut off from the rest of Afghanistan. It is situated on an
important transportation route stretching from India to Istanbul, and this
makes it an ideal commercial or international trading hub. Still, Kabul suffers
as a capital from a geographical standpoint, and this disadvantage translates
into very difficult politics. So, now is the time to begin a process that will
change Kabul's status forever.
While this transformation will not bring peace and stability by itself,
maintaining the status quo should be avoided at all costs. To look at it
another way, Kabul constitutes a cruel trick that has been imposed on the
people of Afghanistan for far too long.
For an outsider to assert that a nation's capital is in a bad location might
seem impolite, arrogant, and just plain wrong. But this is all about helping
the Afghan people in their attempts to survive a conflict that might drag on
for several more years. Everyone's dreams and aspirations must be nurtured. And
in this instance, presenting the idea of building a new capital is a matter of
doing the right thing to assist an anxious population to see some light - no
matter how small - at the end of a dark tunnel.
One big problem with keeping the central government in Kabul has to be
recognized from the start. Its location alone empowers the Taliban and its
allies. Kabul's close proximity to the border with Pakistan has always figured
prominently in the chess match which the Taliban has played so skillfully for
so many years. Taliban commanders and their followers know that Kabul is always
within their grasp, and they are convinced simultaneously that time is on their
side.
Talk of moving the capital far to the west followed by some form of referendum
would signal a desire to make a clean break from the past. Among other things,
this would immediately throw the Taliban off balance and perhaps vastly
diminish the sense of confidence that is so apparent within its ranks.
This is a matter of sending the right signal to all the Afghan people.
Afghanistan must give serious consideration to this concept. Relocating the
capital is all about moving out of the shadows of the past and into the 21st
century. Kabul occupies land too close to Pakistan - it needs to be said over
and over again - and this is what holds the shadows in place. They will never
vanish if things remain as they are today.
When it comes to building a new capital in order to mark a fresh start, plenty
of other countries have embraced the concept with enthusiasm. Just look at all
the new capitals around the region - and the globe - which exist today as
modern venues. These proud, purposeful and well-positioned cities did not come
about by accident.
With the vast sum of money that was raised in an instant to rebuild a badly
battered Gaza in particular - over $5 Billion was secured in a few weeks -
there is ample reason to believe that powerful interests throughout the region
including China and India might be quite willing to not only embrace this plan,
but to provide the funds to make it a reality.
Rest assured that officials in North America and Europe are not prepared for
any grand scheme that would leave them responsible for most of the cost. Other
countries throughout the region which have distanced themselves thus far from
the sad sequence of events unfolding in Afghanistan must be ready to step up
and support this project.
Securing significant multi-national support for the creation of a modern,
"green" capital in the heart of Afghanistan is not going to be easy, but it can
be done.
One goal is to establish new educational, health-care, cultural and political
institutions. Attracting young talented minds and enthusiastic entrepreneurs
from all across the country, the region and the world is another goal. Above
all else, building this new city will help to enhance regional security. This
will come about gradually after the objective of instilling a new sense of hope
in every Afghan village and town is achieved.
Encouraging support for, and assembling all the vital pieces of a broad
economic development initiative which will evolve on a parallel track in this
new capital is important, too.
Yes, this will take a substantial amount of time to accomplish, and it will
first require a thumbs up - a sign of approval - from a majority of the Afghan
people. Exactly how much time it will take to build Afghanistan's new capital
and how much it might cost are unknown. The important thing right now is to
start the process.
Unleashing new political forces and establishing a truly balanced playing field
is why a new capital will do wonders for the spirit of this nation that has
seen so much misery and bloodshed. It will pave the way for the removal of
obstacles that have always hindered efforts to forge a lasting national
identity in other parts of the country, especially in the northern and
northwestern parts of the country.
Moving in this direction would invite a strong central government that could
govern effectively and fairly in the coming years. While President Hamid Karzai
seems very concerned that the power of the central government might be somehow
weakened, he finds it increasingly difficult to portray Kabul's ability to
perform its job in a positive light.
The broad popular support required to make this new capital a reality makes it
even more appealing. Winning a majority of votes in favor of this new capitol
would immediately imply that the Afghan people endorse not only its
construction but more importantly, its occupation by a strong central
government.
At the same time, Kabul's status as a vibrant city is not threatened. As an
important commercial and political hub in eastern Afghanistan. Kabul has no
rival. Certainly, neither Kabul's decline nor its political demise are
desirable outcomes. A period of readjustment will be necessary, but not a
withdrawal from the economic, cultural and political mainstream of Afghan life.
Making the decision to build a new capital is one that the Afghan people will
remember with pride, and not one they will come to regret.
A consortium must be quickly formed to identify the right location, or at least
draw up a short list of promising sites. The selection of the best spot where
Afghanistan can begin to write the next chapters in its history is crucial to
the success of this project.
Afghanistan can become a safe, secure and stable nation. Future generations
must be presented with the promise of a peaceful and more prosperous life. The
Afghan people should see their new capital as a gateway to a new world. They
must realize that by building this new city, they are setting the stage for
brighter days that lie ahead.
Peter J Brown is a freelance writer from Maine USA. He went to Kabul and
other parts of Afghanistan including Kandahar and Herat years ago while
traveling from India to his birthplace in Ankara. He is a frequent contributor
to Asia Times Online.
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