The Forgotten People of Afghanistan – 11 years later

The war on Afghanistan started on 7th October 2001, in retaliation for the attack on America, on 11th September 2001. The strange thing is that none of the hijackers were Afghans. It was the beginning of the 'War on Terror', but now it is seen by many as the War of Terror.

Eleven years later, this war continues. On one side the NATO forces with all their weaponry and modern equipment and on the other side, the Taliban, in one of the poorest countries in the world.

We often hear about the unfortunate death of a British soldier, but we very rarely hear about the deaths of the Afghan civilians, who are paying a heavy price for this war. We know the exact number of British soldiers killed. The BBC in September quoted, “The number of British military personnel killed since operations began in Afghanistan in 2001 is 430.” However, when I tried to look up the number of civilian deaths, it was only an approximate figure.

The Guardian report informs us that, “Some 3,099 non-combatants were killed or injured between January and July of this year...” The Guardian has chosen a strange terminology for innocent civilians, one that they would never use for the victims on 911.

How many have been killed since the war started? Does anybody care?

Imagine the life of children that have been born in Afghanistan in the last 11 years, they only know a home that is in a war zone. This war is fighting against them and their hope of a better future.

The West blames the Taliban for the deaths, but the West needs to ask themselves who is occupying whose country?

What has been achieved by this war, apart from killing and the destruction of a country which was struggling to survive to begin with? We were told by British politicians that this war is needed to protect the people of Afghanistan, to make it a safer country. My question for them is, how? Is Afghanistan safer now than it was before this war started?

When a soldier accidentally kills a child, does he not think that the father of the child will see the West as his biggest enemy? This war is only creating more potential terrorists and is achieving nothing, but destruction.

Previously, both the British Empire and the Russian Empires failed miserably when trying the capture Afghanistan. The Afghans were too much for them. History is repeating itself and again the Afghans are telling the world that they will continue fighting to rule themselves.

Isn't it time to learn from history? Muslims today are rising up and standing against their dictators, who were put into power by the West. It is time for the West to realise that things are going to change. Muslims will decide who rules over them in their land.

NATO will not win this war unless they come to a diplomatic agreement with all parties in Afghanistan. There was no just reason for this war, it was based on revenge and emotions.

In Sahih Muslim hadith, Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said “People will see such days that the killer will not know why he kills, nor the innocent why they are slain.”

Indeed we are seeing such days today.