شفيق همدم

A year passed from the Afghan presidential elections, but yet the government is lagging. More than half of the government is acting. Peace talk is deadlocked, insecurity has increased and even expended from south and east to the northern and western provinces. Unemployment and poverty is at its peak. Government reform and development projects are barren. Institutions have been weakened and the casualties of Afghan National Security Forces increased. Tension between president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and his CEO, Abdullah Abdullah has paralyzed the system and as result country is in the rigorous crisis. Without any delay all actors should engage to end this acute crisist
International terrorism and extremists once again focused on Afghanistan and besides the Taliban and Haqqani Network, international terrorist groups, including ISIS, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaida and other extremist groups have been expanding their reach to the major cities of the country. Augmented of numerous terrorist groups has even concerned Taliban and they have been working to secure their identity and influence. They see some of the international terrorist group as a parallel structure. In the recent attempt to show their existence, Taliban issued their supreme leader, Mullah Omar’s biography, but still the Islamic Caliphate is considered a challenge for the Islamic Emirate.
According to a confidential report to the Internal and Defense Committees of the Afghan Parliament, hundreds of terrorists have come to northern Afghanistan from South and Central Asian countries.  Some areas of the Northern provinces are under the direct control of IMU and ISIS. The local authorities have been urging central government to support them in the war against these foreign fighters. Latest attacks against civilians and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Badakhshan and Balkh provinces by foreign fighters are an alarm for the Afghans and their allies.
Presence of illegal armed groups of the Northern Alliance, drug mafia and arbitrary decisions of the local authorities in the north has created the atmosphere for growth of terrorist groups. The strategic transit route to Central Asian countries, poppy cultivation, arm smuggling from Russian and Central Asian counties, absence of adequate ANSF and ethnic structure has further encouraged the terrorist groups to choose Northern provinces as their strongholds.
Regional players and opponents of the US and NATO allies, including Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), see the immense existence of western allies in the region as a strategic threat and they have been trying to destabilize Afghanistan and back these terrorist groups in order to force the western allies to withdraw from the region. Russia has been using presence of these terrorist groups as an excuse to further brace its presence in Central Asia.  ISI plays a significant role to support and influence local and foreign fighters.   
Absence of a political opposition in Afghanistan has created a system of impunity. Weak political parties, dependent parliament and fragile civil society organizations are not in a position to hold the government accountable. Corruption has increased in all sectors, and the civil service system has vastly politicized.  However the cabinet seats have already been alienated between The President and his CEO, but they repetitively disagreed on the selection of the cabinet members. The government and parliament have been trying to wedge technocrat and merit based appointments. So far the youth and women can’t see their true representatives in the government.
During their campaigns and after the formation of the National Unity Government, The President and his CEO have promised for grave reforms, fighting corruption, gender mainstreaming, security, peace talks, inclusiveness of the government, but so far they have failed to fulfill their promises. High level appointments are based on the ethnic and political affiliations, which has greatly damaged accountability of the government. Fraud during the president election has resulted to the post election crisis and the government agreed to immediately reform the Election Commission. However the parliamentary election to be held this year, but yet the commission is not reformed.
There is not any unify strategy for peace talk, so the process is deadlocked. The President and his CEO, Abdullah Abdullah has their individual and insubstantial approaches. Before the Taliban leaderships were without an address to hold a peace talks, now it’s the Afghan government. The President, the CEO and even provincial governors have their own stands for peace talks. The foreign policy of the government is not unified. During the last visit of the Afghan government leaderships to the USA, they have bypassed all protocols and norms. The President and his CEO organized their trip through their friends and campaign member’s not through the ministry of foreign affairs or Afghan embassy in DC. Outcome of the visit was nothing significant, but it has increased tensions between The President and his CEO.
Foreign aid has been reduced and due to the uncertain condition the investment and revenue has dramatically reduced.  In last one year, hundreds of millions of USD form the aid and revenue money is looted in corruption. In one scandal, 100 millions USD is looted at the ministry of defense, but yet corrupt officials have not been punished. Mafia has been trying to control the private sector and major development projects are either perched or closed.  Only this year, the government could not facilitate higher education and jobs for more than hundred thousand high school graduates. Violence against women and human rights violation has increased and the process of transition justice is forgotten.  
Increased activities of the ISIS near Kabul city, the barbaric and brutal killing of innocent 27 years young Afghan girl, Farkhunda a mile away from the Present Palace indicates ignorance of the government. Mobilization of the Afghan people across the country and even across the globe to advocate for justice, freedom and democracy, is unprecedented and shows Afghans frustration from the system. Thousands of Afghans people across the country protest against hunger, improper and irregular taxation, lack of service delivery by the government, poverty and unemployment.
Tensions between the President and his CEO over domestic issues, and absence of a cohesive foreign policy, increased foreign interference, poverty, unemployment aids reeducation and increased violence in the society, are the major factors of ongoing crisis in the country. Instead of resolving the issues, the leaderships of the country try to veil the reality and keep the nation and gloom. The ongoing approach of the government will only jeopardize the massive investment made in last one decade by Afghans and their allies.
The government is responsible to secure and build on the gains made by blood and treasure. Afghans are exhausted of dirty political games. Their family cannot be feed by news, fighting and politics; they need at least minimum means of living. If the leaderships of the government with the support of the US and the international community do not take grave and abrupt steps, the insurgents and terrorist group will further gain vigor and the National Unity Government can collapse.
The US government as the closest ally of the government, who was deeply engaged in the formation the National Unity Government, and who has invested by blood and treasure has equal responsibility to rescue the country. The history is witness that revolution in Afghanistan is rapid, but bloody. Prevention is better than cure, so the Afghan people, government and the international community should realize the sensitivity of the issue and immediately take action to tackle the challenges, before it gets too late. Otherwise Afghans and their allies will lament, except the terrorist organizations, mafia and the ISI. 
 About the author: Mohammad Shafiq Hamdam is a social activist, political analyst and writer. He can be reached at @shafiqhamdam