Amid the relentless peace talks and negotiations with the Taliban, Afghanistan — like the rest of the world — has been struck by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The virus has gained a foothold in war-torn nations like Afghanistan and it is a danger. Infrastructure and health care practices are simply struggling to cope. Afghanistan has recorded more than 37,000 cases and 1,300 deaths, but experts warn that the true figures are far higher because of a lack of testing facilities and medical equipment. So COVID-19’s real impact remains unknown.
It is widely said that the future of Afghanistan is dependent on a deal being struck with the Taliban. The country is fed up with being at the mercy of the terrorist group’s demands, but I think the true power lies in the hands of the Afghan people. We celebrate 101 years of independence on Wednesday, and it is the strength of the country to not only live through the ongoing peace talks but also the disruption and chaos of the coronavirus that makes me confident that the start of this century in Afghanistan’s history will be a time for change.
The future of my home country will be shaped by the incredible acts of kindness that the world has witnessed in the past few months. The people of Afghanistan never fail to amaze me.
The women of Afghanistan have been an inspiration to many, both because of people like my mother, who risked her life traveling to the UK to bring me and my siblings to safety, and because of how they debunk the stereotype that Afghan women are confined to their homes and have few rights in society. The all-female robotics team that recently designedlow-cost ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients in Kabul proved otherwise. This remarkable group of young Afghan women, whose innovative ventilators are now being rolled out across Afghanistan’s hospitals in partnership with the World Health Organization, are helping those suffering from the virus. They are a true example of “girl power,” but also of the youth activism Afghanistan is famous for, having one of the world’s largest populations of people aged under 25. To see such originality from this group of young women is something for the country to be proud of.
It is also encouraging to see the inventive ideas being tried out on the streets of Kabul to adapt to life during the pandemic. The capital is usually littered with snack carts, most of which are run by women, but the lockdown meant they became jobless, with sudden restrictions destroying their businesses overnight. The reinvention of their food carts as solar-powered mobile disinfection units was remarkable and filled an urgent gap in services, helping the city tackle the outbreak.
The COVID-19 outbreak, despite the devastation and confusion it has caused, is an opportunity for Afghanistan to show how it can unite, thrive and rejuvenate. The peace talks will not define it.
The future of my home country will be shaped by the incredible acts of kindness the world has witnessed in the past few months.
Rabia Nasimi
We must remember that the Taliban are using the virus to strong-arm their interests. We see this in their recruitment propaganda, which has tried to threaten even the more rural parts of Afghanistan. But it is the group’s constant game of pleading for a cease-fire that I am dubious of. Whenever there is a common religious festival, such as Eid Al-Fitr and more recently Eid Al-Adha, they put their weapons down to enjoy the few days of peace that follow. This is an illusion that we must not fall for. Let us not forget that the Taliban is a terrorist group: A terrorist group that my family ran away from all those years ago. No length or number of cease-fires should mean we fall into their hands.
The start of this country’s new century will be one to remember, not only because of the global pandemic but because of the people of Afghanistan. Let us look to the future and continue to shout about the brilliance and bravery of the people who are making their country a country worth fighting for.
- Rabia Nasimi is the Strategic Development Manager at the award-winning Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) in the UK. Twitter: @RabiaNasimi
