The Internal Political Conflicts in Afghanistan
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The Internal Political Conflicts in Afghanistan
Introduction
The state of the political system in Afghanistan has been delicate for decades; the country
has experienced war over control of the nation. Countries like America assigned military aid to
the country to help keep peace for years. The war left hundreds of thousands dead and many
more displaced. Surrounding countries received refugees from the war torn country. The factors
that caused this political situation to go bad so fast and remain so for a long time are internal and
external. The political instability drew the attention of regional and international personalities,
countries, and corporations with interest in the country’s political system. Peace talks locally and
internationally are held to find a solution the war. The internal political system is affected by
ethnic differences that caused the rise of rebellious military groups in the country. Lack of proper
political leadership slows the peace and nation building process. The country was close to
reaching political accord with the Taliban militia group after the group was defeated in 2001; the
talks however failed as well as hopes for a united government, (Partaw, 2015). The journey of
Afghanistan towards achieving peace has been long. This research espouses on the internal
political factors that influence this state-of-affairs.
Chapter 1
Historical Analysis of Afghanistan Politics
International Influences
National and international player has influenced the Afghan politics for decades. The
‘The Great Game’ was the beginning of war in the international field. The internal political
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 4
contributors to the war began at that time. The Afghan military movements struggled for control
of their country. The militias had their own perspectives on how their country was to be ruled.
These views were divided on lines of ethnicity, religious extremism, and embracing western
cultures. The Kabul was a communist movement aligned with the Soviet Union and the
Mujahedin groups aligned with the west, the U.S. After the Soviet Union gave up its interest in
the country, a new phase of civil war began in Afghanistan. The battle for control was between
the Mujahedin groups and the Kabul. The civil war led to the deaths and displacement of many
Afghanis.
The Taliban versus the Mujahedin Militia
The Taliban group rose in this period and managed to get control of most of the country.
The religious factors were perhaps the most motivating factors. The movement established its
rule through strict adherence to Islamic laws. According to Islam laws, the religious aspects of
Islam cannot be separated from the political and societal issues. Leaders themselves get their
political and leadership powers from God, (Olesen, 2013, p. 1). This ideology heavily gave the
Taliban a reason to enforce their power on people. The beginning of their rule was met with
positive reaction from the people who had experienced civil wars for years. Continued resistance
from the Mujahedin groups led to increased war. The international community distanced itself
from the Taliban due to its religious extremism and its refusal to surrender Osama Bin Laden, a
famous terrorist. After the 9/11 U.S. bombing by suspected Islamist extremist, there were
concerns on the form of leadership the Taliban militia aimed at introducing in Afghanistan,
(Mattox, & Grenier, 2015, p. 1). International force joined the efforts of the Mujahedin groups to
stop the end of the Taliban rule.
A New Dawn
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 5
A new government was established with the help of International bodies, making Hamid
Karzai an interim president and the first democratically elected president in Afghanistan. The
civil war ended, the country had a chance to experience peace. However, the journey was not
over, the new government still experienced opposition from rebel groups, elements of the
Taliban movement that rose now and then and many other insecurity cases. The politics of the
country have determined the pace at which government directs the country towards peace and a
democratic rule.
Chapter 2
Political causes of conflict
Methods of governance
Internal conflicts are difficult to end without cooperation from all parties that participate
in conflict. Ethnic and religious groups often form and divide people. To achieve peace, the
incoming government has to incorporate the view and demands of these parties in negotiations.
Negotiations occur because no party wants to give up its demands, while they all cannot rule,
talks are necessary to ensure that all parties feel acknowledged in the new administration. The
process involves making bargains, incorporating ideas and people from the opposing side into
the government. In its peace negotiations, Afghanistan incorporated people who were leaders of
war groups. The belief in this process was that it would reduce the chances of an uprising. The
government bears the description of ‘democracy’ to increase its legitimacy among the people;
however, the entire structure is a political bargain. Inclusion of war leaders who contribute to
mass killings bring to question the commitment of the government to ensure justice for all. Laws
allowing the people, who committed humanitarian injustices to be forgiven in the country, were
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 6
politically motivated. A large percentage of the parliamentarians responsible for passing the law
are warlords who acted in self-interest, (Vigier, 2009, p. 82).
The system of dealing with substandard rulers in the country is ineffective. Poor leaders
do not face any legal action and do not answer to any person. If a region complains of the
administration it receives, the ruler is merely transferred to another area. Poor leadership is seen
in poor enforcement of laws, corruption, and mistreatment. The application of the rule of law is
discriminatory on people depending on the societal position and connections a person has. This
situation leads to a cycle of bad administration in many parts of the country. No leader is
accountable for his actions and the systems set to ensure accountability are merely for show.
Corruption
The decadence in the Afghan government contributes to the lack of political stability and
poor governance. Government positions are viewed as moneymaking positions that are open for
sale and opportunities to accumulate funds. The misuse of public office for personal gains has
open doors for drug cartels, money laundering, and ways to access ammunitions easily. The
reputation that the government seeks to build in the eyes of the people cannot be achieved. The
country is listed among the five most corrupt countries globally. Both police department and the
judiciary are not efficient in providing security or justice to the people, (Groenewald, 2016, p.
36). The public has little trust in the government’s ability to provide them with a better life.
The state of corruption goes beyond the administration of the country to the ethnic
communities. The majority ethnic groups in the country are Pashtun, Tajik, and Hazaras, (Vigier,
2009, p. 82). Ethnicity is found in every department of the government. Laws introduced by a
certain ethnic group get support from that group more than other ethnic groups. The politics of
the country are based on the ethnic line. Job opportunities, service rendering, and other public
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 7
opportunities that the government should give free of charge are given based on one’s ethnicity.
The laws passed by members of parliament do not aim at bringing good to all citizens of
Afghanistan but are designed to benefit an ethnic group best. This explains why the country has
never seen a government that had acceptance from people in the whole nation. There is always a
group that feels that there could be a better administration that the existing one. This causes
rebellion in the administrative regions.
The military way of ‘Peace building’
Afghanistan has experienced war for decades; the methods they use in fighting insurgents
form the early 1990s were military. The government’s approach to eradicating rebels has
remained the same even in the process of establishing a civil country. The belief that bombing a
village where suspected insurgents are located and killing both rebels and law-abiding civilians
as collateral damage still exists. The use of military force to keep peace leads to increased
violation of human rights. The misconception that this is the best way to build the country
reinforces the effects that the war had in the country. Groups that oppose these methods rise
regularly creating a cycle of war in a ‘peaceful’ country. Use of military units leaves little room
for peaceful talks among groups. A country that enforces its rules and legitimacy through
military actions gains little legitimacy among its people.
Historical leadership
A democratically elected government has never ruled Afghanistan. This historical
background coupled with the type of administration the country has had for decades gives the
present leaders little guidance on the meaning of democracy and proper leadership. The leaders
view their positions as absolute and their power over the people is unquestionable. The type of
‘democracy’ practiced in the country is similar to that of a tyrant viewing his position as
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 8
deserved and give no room for the people to contribute. Public participation in local matters and
rebellion are viewed in similar light. The situation is made worse by the fact that the people do
not understand their rights and how to enforce them. After living under military rule and the
Taliban for so long, they see no difference in the administration of either groups. They lived
knowing violence is the only method to bring peace and to be heard by their rulers.
Chapter 3
Sources of Political Legitimacy
Islam Religion
According to Islam, the state or millat is a form of a religious society. The government
gets its power from God and its rule should follow the Islam laws and culture. A number of
political groups that rose in Afghanistan used religion as a political strategy to gain legitimacy in
the eyes of the people. The adoption of western culture in the country became a motivation for
groups to resist and fight to uphold the Islam Heritage of the country. The Mujahedin group
supported the creation of an Islamist state. They group received international aid at the time due
to its efforts to combat the Kabul. Its failure to deliver its promises together with the close
association with the West led to the rise of the Taliban. Most of the scholars in the country at that
period still upheld the deep religious convictions of the incorporation of Islam in the formation
of a central government. Future governments that followed the Taliban rule espoused their
commitment to incorporation their religion in the form of leadership. The region still supports
the creation of a unified Islamic state to this day.
Ethnicity
The politics of Afghanistan are organized according to the ethnic lines of the country.
From the rule of the Taliban, which was largely dominated by the Pashtun, tribes that oppressed
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 9
other tribes to the current government that is still tribal minded, (Laub, 2014). Ethnicity honor to
one’s tribe is a source of power. Political parties and militia are formed according to the tribe
they come from. The policies they support are to the benefit of their own people. The current
government uses a system that aims at reducing tribalism and forming a country that is unified.
Leaders are in charge of region with which they have no tribal affiliations. This method helps to
ensure that leaders seek the best interest of the people they rule and not their own tribes. The
efficacy of this system is debatable due to the frequent rebellions in regions. The leader is then
transferred to another region and another one replaces him. The method may take time in
achieving its goals.
Nationalism
The historical forms of administration that the Afghanis had seen were either too
restrictive or discriminatory towards one group. Some groups felt that the dominant communities
centralized power towards their ideologies leaving other groups to abide by them forcefully.
There rose a struggle that seemed to be of the strong versus the weak. A generation of learned
people rose and wanted a government that incorporated all tribes, valued the Afghani culture,
and treated all citizens equally. This group was of the opinion that the minority groups in
Afghanistan were being left out in administration by the more prominent groups. The formation
of a united front in the government would increase its legitimacy. The ideals of this group are
similar to those of democracy. A government that represented all views in its administration
would reduce the occurrence of rebellions from the regions hence creating a unified and
legitimate government.
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 10
Chapter 4
Challenges
The research has illustrated the factors that have influenced the internal politics of
Afghanistan for decades. The political situation in the country has been tense. The country is
presently trying to rebuild itself and establish a new government. Its efforts are challenged by
many factors. The legitimacy of the government is still concerning. The Afghan population does
not seem satisfied with the form of administration it receives. This is clear from the regular rise
of rebel groups fighting for control of the country. The system of administration by the
government does not provide long lasting strategic systems to deal with the rebels. Use of
military methods to control the people only leads to further violation of human rights.
International players heavily influence the internal politics of the country. The country has yet to
achieve complete independence from the international community that directs the country’s
politics. The tribal alignment of leaders only serves to further the achievement of a unified
country. The Islamist extremism and convictions of creation of an Islamist state seems to
increase in the region. Afghanistan is among the countries where the politics of the formation of
an Islamic Nation exists. Warlords in support of such agendas propagate the politics such
propaganda and influence formation of radicalized groups. The warlords supporting these
movements have high political power in the country able to influence the local authorities and
the law making process, (Council on Foreign Relations, 2016).
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 11
Conclusion
Afghanistan has had a history of war for decades; the country still tries to rebuild itself
from the wars it has faced. The political administration of the country has facilitated the rise and
end of these wars. The Afghan people have demonstrated their strength and ability to fight for
their political beliefs. The country still bases many of its laws on the Sharia laws. Perhaps this
path of following religion will allow a peaceful country to be born. However, from the research
the country is trying to rebuild itself, the political means used in this process are not entirely bad.
The execution of their strategies has several faults, like, corruption and tribalism. The country
would benefit greatly through a holistic approach of national building where the leaders work for
the good of all the people to make their country better. The internal politics of Afghanistan
depict the struggle that many other countries go through in rebuilding themselves. Countries like
Iraq, Rwanda etc that have experienced war and have had a troublesome journey in rebuilding
themselves. The journey for Afghanistan has only begun.
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 12
References
Council on Foreign Relations. (2016). Global Conflict Tracker. Retrieved from
http://www.cfr.org/global/global-conflict-tracker/p32137#!/conflict/taliban-in-
afghanistan
Groenewald, H. (2016). “Hammering the bread and the nail”. Lessons from counter-terror,
stabilisation and statebuilding in Afghanistan. Retrieved from
http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:__vrFTXjQpAJ:scholar.googl
e.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&sciodt=0,5
Mattox, G. A., & Grenier, S. M. (2015). Coalition Challenges in Afghanistan: The Politics of
Alliance. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=CdbDCgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Th
e+Internal+political+conflicts+in+Afghanistan.&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepa
ge&q=The%20Internal%20political%20conflicts%20in%20Afghanistan.&f=false
Laub, Z. (2014). The Taliban in Afghanistan – Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from
http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551
Olesen, A. (2013). Islam & Politics Afghanistan N. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rrL4y2siY9wC&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=The
+Internal+political+conflicts+in+Afghanistan.+&ots=960UmNyCCb&sig=rOIR7Z4x
MTwrf2vIzpN37ycAlwE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Internal%20political
%20conflicts%20in%20Afghanistan.&f=false
Partaw, A. M. (2015). The Dynamics of Peace and Political Change in Afghanistan | Foreign
Policy Journal. Retrieved from http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2015/07/28/the-
dynamics-of-peace-and-political-change-in-afghanistan/
THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS IN AFGHANISTAN 13
Vigier, C. (2009). CONFLICT ASSESSMENT AFGHANISTAN. CONFLICT
ASSESSMENT AFGHANISTAN. Retrieved from
https://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/Afghanistan%20-
%20Conflict%20Assessment.pdf
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