We asked Nik Mohammad Nikmal Editor of Kabul Times Daily some questions to understand what is happening in Afghanistan, a country that has disappeared from the news of our newspapers. In a time of great wars and conflicts, knowing the rest of the world is essential to build peace.
by Marco Pondrelli
1) The overall situation, and what is happening in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO troops?
The Islamic Emirate took over Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, following the defeat of the US-led NATO forces in the country. Afghanistan has hugely changed since. Over three years after the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, the overall political, economic and security situation in the country remains extremely hopeful. Today, Afghanistan is being administered by an independent, powerful, united, central and responsible Islamic government, which is a first for the country in more than four decades.
Today, the overall security situation has improved significantly across the country as people travel from province to province without any fear. Roads connecting cities to remote districts and villages across the country are all secure and safe. The Islamic Emirate has paid particular attention to the implementation of small and major development projects in the country. The projects span multiple sectors, including infrastructure, rural development, industry, transportation, healthcare, electricity, water management, agriculture, and telecommunication.
Almost each development project aims to enhance critical areas that contribute to Afghanistan’s economic development and public welfare. The development projects implemented across various provinces, fully funded by the budget of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, reflecting a commitment to advancing national infrastructure and regional development.
One of the big positive changes is that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has undertaken reconstruction programs, started working on half-completed projects, roads, dams, check dams, construction of schools everywhere in the country. They have completed the construction of hundreds of small and major development projects in the past three years. Construction work on Qush Tepa Canal, the revival of TAPI Gas Pipeline, and other national development projects have been started during the current Islamic Emirate government.
2) What are the major problems in Afghanistan today?
As Afghanistan has suffered from continued wars and violence, off course, there are problems and challenges facing the country. One of the major problems facing the people is the humanitarian crisis, which is mostly because of sanctions that have been imposed by the international community. This has resulted in increasing unemployment and poverty in the country. Another challenge facing the country is climate change causing natural disasters that highly affect the population during the year.
3) China is assuming an increasingly important position in the world, what are your country’s relations with Beijing and what is your position on the Belt and Road Initiative?
Our relations with China as a neighboring country are good as almost all matters are handled officially. We hope that the current interactions between the two countries will increase further in future.
4) Afghanistan has experienced a long period of war. Now the war has arrived in many other countries of the world, starting with Ukraine and Palestine. Do you think that the creation of a multipolar world can help build a world of peace?
Yes, absolutely, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world had become almost unipolar, with the US seeing no rivals for itself. If a balance of power is maintained in the world, of course, peace and tranquility will be maintained across the world.
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