A year has passed since the allies left Afghanistan and the Taliban, who promised a more moderate regime than in the 1990s, took control of Kabul. “The baselines have not changed. Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world and poverty is rising,” summarizes Petislav Turicek, Middle East analyst and head of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Metropolitan University in Prague.
outdoor school in afghanistan | Source: Profimedia
The Taliban monopolize power and refuse to share it with other opposition groups, for example. The international community does not recognize his government even after a year. So there are sanctions, the Americans are withholding several billion dollars in Afghan money. All this exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the country.”
Guest: Břetislav Tureček, Middle East analyst from Metropolitan University in Prague. Hosted by Zeta Senkova
In addition, part of the population has lost their good livelihood. “Education and Western humanitarian organizations are working to advance the country – often artificially,” the analyst states the lost jobs. He adds that Afghanistan, like the rest of the world, has not escaped the COVID-19 pandemic.
It sums up: “On the one hand, we gave literally trillions of dollars to get Afghanistan back on its feet, and now we’re locking up billions because the Taliban is in power there.”
This is also the reason why ordinary citizens of the country do not receive assistance. “And not even Afghans themselves can buy it, because they lack money in state coffers,” adds Turishek.
Afghan lawyer who helped capture the Taliban: We wanted to fight, but then the president ran away
Read the article
According to him, the regime established by the Taliban is not as brutal as it was twenty years ago. “But it’s still not the island of freedom in the middle of the Middle East,” says the analyst, noting that the movement has introduced various restrictions that particularly affect women’s rights.
The Islamic Emirate, as Tureshk refers to the Kabul regime, is based on very conservative ideas.
“In addition, they mix the Pashtun tribal customs in Islam. This is a very conservative culture. The problem is that they apply the Pashtun customs not only where people do not mind, that is, in the south of the Pashtuns, but also where they do not care. In this case, the north is the most liberal areas In Tajik,” Torichek recalls, calling it a source of instability.
However, with the departure of the Americans and their allies, the civil war in the country ended. “Until then we had a thousand deaths every year. This aspect of the crisis has disappeared. In fact there is no longer any fighting in the country. Unfortunately, there is a group in power that has not brought more freedoms to a large part of the population,” says Petislav Torczyk. .
Iraq under the influence of Tehran
In recent days, the situation in Iraq has escalated, and two political camps have entered into armed clashes.
Iraqi cleric al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics, killing at least 12 people during his followers’ protests
Read the article
We know from Iraq that there is fighting between Shiites and Sunnis, between Kurds and Arabs and others. But now it has become an internal battle in the Shiite community,” explains Torichek.
Followers of a political and religious leader stand against each other Muqtada al-Sadr, who won last year’s parliamentary elections but failed to form a government. Opposed by the camp of Shiite parties closest to Iran.
None of them succeeded in forming a government. But since we are not in the Czech Republic, but in Iraq, this deficit has an even more dramatic form in a country that has lived through twenty years of war. Last week we saw fighting in the government district of Baghdad in which dozens were killed. And now we are watching where it will lead us, because there is no solution in sight,” summarizes the analyst.
Some Iraqis want the country not to be ruled by those in power since the 2003 US invasion.
“It seems logical. People who have taken to the streets recently and wanted to end this violent atmosphere are demanding something similar,” states the analyst.
Iran wants to use a facial recognition system to control headscarves. It is imposed on women by law
Read the article
The fact that the Iraqi state is not working has an impact on people’s daily lives. There is no work, no electricity, and state services are not working properly. There is no electricity in the country, with temperatures around 40°C in summer. Not only does the air conditioner not turn on, but the refrigerator doesn’t work either. Not even a hospital. People who need a refrigerated medicine for self-treatment do not have it. And people are demanding this change,” Turechek explains.
But in a country that is divided into many ethnic and religious groups and everyone wants to share power, according to Turki, it is impossible to form a political force that is completely new.
Meanwhile, he is strengthening Iran’s influence. In recent years, it has become clear that if there is a compromise in Iraq, Iran will organize it. And of course he does it for his own good. It is very likely that the Iranians will install their loyal people and somehow negotiate a settlement with their opponents,” fears Petislav Torichek.
Listen to the full interview in the audio.
