Afghans happy to celebrity 1st anniversary of “freedom” after 20 years

Afghanistan on 15 August marked the first anniversary of the US troop’s withdrawal from the country after 20 years of their presence. The celebration ceremony held in Bagram airbase, one of the biggest and major former US military bases, where Taliban acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund and other high officials of the interim Taliban government were present.

Speaking at the event, Mullah Akhund said a year after the victory; the Afghans still continue to pay the heavy price of sanctions imposed by the US.  “Pressures and sanctions never work,” Mullah Akhund said, calling on the world to return to the path of understanding, harmony and brotherhoods.

Frozen Afghan assets

Joe Biden’s administration has swiftly seized almost $9 billion of Afghan funds after hurried withdrawal and Taliban entry to Kabul with intention to split the frozen assets between the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and half of it to the humanitarian aid for the Afghans.

Sanctions and frozen money has badly affected Afghanistan’s financial monetary, commercial and economic system, and the economic situation has gotten worse. The international community did not recognize the Taliban so far, but they continue diplomatic ties, like the US appointed special envoy for the country, and the EU has its representatives in Kabul. China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and many other countries have their embassies open and active in Afghanistan and are working with the Taliban government.

Kabul citizens happy that occupation is ended

To pick the minds of ordinary Afghans, the Harici correspondent had visited Kabul city and conducted interviews with 45 people, 15 among them women. Majority of them were happy that no foreign troops are currently in the country.

“We understand that the economic situation for a number of Afghans is not good, but at the same time we are thankful that we are free today, free of occupation, and free of interferences,” Qais, a Kabul resident said.

On August 31, the last US soldier withdrew from Kabul Airport.

Indeed, there is much more work that needs to be done to take Afghanistan out of the current dilemma, especially in economic areas. “Peace and security is important. There were some deadly terrorist attacks targeting mosques and holy places, but if Taliban succeeded in restoring peace, economy will improve atomically,” another resident Fawad said.

The test of freedom is unique, a female resident Nadia told Harici. “I have traveled to Helmand province, my birthplace. Visiting there was not possible during foreign occupation due to heavy fighting,” she said.

She also traveled to Khost, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Herat, Nuristan, Nangarhar, Logar, Zabul, Sar-e-Pul provinces. “I celebrated this day (freedom day) with my family in Kabul at my home and we had lots of guests coming from Helmand,” she said.

Neighbors, regional countries and Afghanistan

The world, especially the neighbors and regional countries must step up efforts to help Afghanistan in all fields. “Afghanistan is free after 20 years and in light of this there is more investment opportunity which is the only and rapidest way to enhance the economy,” said another resident Gul Shah.

Shah said that Afghanistan has three trillion dollars underground resources and this is enough to rebuild the country. “During the US presence there were several news doing rounds in the media and also I personally read several news reports that Afghanistan has trillions of dollars in untapped underground resources. It’s time for its extraction,” Shah said.

Afghanistan is not a poor country once its underground resources, as well as gas, gold and other valuable reserves take out and use in the benefit of Afghanistan and the Afghans.

Taliban must let girls go to schools

The freedom is truly appreciable and worth-celebration, but the Taliban must explain why they banned girls from going to schools, another resident Jamshed said.

“The joy and happiness that we have today for our victory against foreign troops is unmatchable, but it has been for one year now that my sister can’t go to school,” Jamshed lamented.

The Taliban did not allow girls to attend secondary schools, which literally means no education above sixth grade. Jamshed called on Taliban leadership to reopen girl’s schools and this will result in winning the hearts of millions of schoolgirls.

The US government sent 775,000 troops to Afghanistan over the course of two decades, in which 2,461 of them were killed and more than 20,000 others were wounded. Meanwhile, more than 3,500 troops from non-US NATO countries were killed in Afghanistan.