Afghanistan progress offers reasons for optimism, pride The Times Herald October 18, 2014 I had the honor of speaking recently to the United States Institute of Peace for its 30th anniversary celebration. I focused my remarks on the pursuit of peace in Afghanistan and the wisdom that has aided us in that pursuit. I am hopeful about Afghanistans future because of the progress we have helped bring about over the past several years — and I am hopeful because of the recent peaceful and democratic transition of power, a first in Afghanistan history. That transition offers increased reason for optimism that we have an essential ingredient for success in place there, perhaps the essential ingredient –— a unity government of Afghans whose own goals are in harmony with our goal of a free, peaceful and unified Afghanistan. Afghanistan faces immense challenges from Taliban terror to corruption to poverty to ethnic and political tension. But the progress the country has made is also immense. Too many people forget what Afghanistan was like before the coalition intervention in 2001. Even in major cities, access to food, clean water and employment was limited. Women were barred from attending school, working outside the home, or even leaving their houses unless accompanied by a male relative. Today, there is vibrancy in Afghan society. In just one decade, life expectancy in Afghanistan has increased by 22 years and child mortality has decreased by 62 percent. Under the Taliban there were just 900,000 students in school, all boys. Now, student enrollment is more than 8 million, including about 3 million girls. In 2001, Afghanistan had 20,000 teachers, all male; today, there are 200,000 teachers, including 60,000 women. The Afghan security forces have exceeded our military commanders expectations, successfully responding to Taliban attacks and safeguarding two rounds of elections. Afghans now have hope for better governance as well, as President Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdullah, who competed in a hotly contested election, have resolved their differences about the election and formed a unity government. While public opinion polls show that the Afghan people think we have accomplished much and are glad we came, polls in the United States show Americans believe our involvement in Afghanistan has failed. I believe the American publics failure to understand what we have accomplished in Afghanistan is due, in large part, to the constant, almost totally negative portrayal of events in Afghanistan in the American press. If the public continues to believe Afghanistan is a lost cause, it may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Much remains to be done, but I believe if the Afghan people remain united, and if we remain constant in our support of them, Afghanistan will take its place among the achievements of which our nation can be proud. Carl Levin is the senior U.S. senator from Michigan and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Back to Top Back to Top Government Unable to Collect Debt From Sherpoor Homeowners TOLOnews By Zabhiullah Jahanmal October 18, 2014 Homeowners in the Sherpoor area of Kabul owe the Afghan government over 10 million USD but are refusing to pay up, according to local officials. Sherpoor houses are rented up to 30,000 USD a month, but owners have declined to pay the government back for the costs of infrastructure development in the area. The Kabul Mayor did not get into the specifies of the debt, but said efforts are underway to collect all that is owed. Some of the Sherpoor money has been paid, but the remaining money needs to be paid, Mayor Muhammad Younus Nawandesh said. It has been mentioned in the agreement as well that if the installments are not paid on time, they will be fined. Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani has also weighed in on the issue. The Sherpoor incident will not be repeated, we will collect the installments for Sherpoor lands, Ghani said. The Sherpoor residential area was built around 10 years ago and is largely filled with luxury homes for government officials and successful businessmen. Nine to ten million dollars of the Sherpoor land money is remaining that has not been paid to the government, Sherpoor area representative Said Muhammad said. A real-estate broker in Sherpoor, Muhammad Ajmal, said much of the money the owners make off rent, which they could pay the government back with, gets transferred abroad. Many of these houses are rented at a high price, owners take the rent six month or even a year in advance, and then transfer it to their account abroad. Sherpoor is known as a wealthy neighborhood, yet the roads remain unpaved. It lies on about 400 acres of land in one of the most important areas of capital. Close to 360 plots were sold to senior government officials and landlords 10 years ago.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 11:58:48 +0000
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