Now that the fanfare is over, the turban and the karakul cap worn and displayed by Mr.Karzai, applause subsided and the great tent of the Loya Jirga emptied, it is time for president Karzai to get his act together and to launch the great task of rebuilding the nation.

But rebuilding the nation, the big challenge ahead of him, cannot start with a majority that is discontent, a minority faction elements in control of important portfolios in the government, government coffers empty, the US war on terror continuing, warlords more powerful than ever, and a cabinet that is hardly a match to the great job.

Furthermore the need for well planned coordination of the UN and US forces inside Afghanistan with Afghan government military has become more dire in the wake of the killing of some 46 innocent villagers at an Uruzgan province wedding by US bombs and air attacks on Wednesday. Some reports suggest this was done based on reports by informers that Taleban and Al-Qaida elements were hiding in the village and according to another US claim American planes were fired by antiaircraft guns from the village of Kakkaran. These, it was reported, promoted the attack in the area. President Bush has already called Karzai and expressed sorrow over the incident. He has further offered sympathy to the families of the bereaved. The provincial governor of Uruzgan has asked the US forces to hand over the informer in for investigation. It is also reported that Karzai is critical of military action based only on informer reports. The incident has damaged the standing of Karzai, the elected president of Afghanistan who is also branded as a friend of the United States.

While the US forces were referred to as liberators as they started the process of toppling down of the Taleban regime, continued errors in judgment and lack of coordination between the US military and Afghan government, have helped the tolerance for foreign forces wear thin among the Afghans who are traditionally opposed to foreign military presence in their country. A protest in front of the White House and a 200-person strong demonstration in Kabul yesterday are examples that the Afghans have started to demand proof of friendship by the United States.

Apart from the above accidental complication, Karzai still needs to officially embark on the tasks of building of a national army and police force, explaining his promised plan for abolishment of warlordism, shaping up of a transitional parliament he promised the Loya Jirga, creating of a commission for drafting of a new constitution, devising plans for upholding of human rights and especially women's rights, and organizing plans of his transitional ministries to embark upon revival and reconstruction. All of the above is easily said than done. Today the Afghans can easily distinguish between promise and action and have become more demanding as the need for action to better their lot has become dire. The country has entered into a fourth year of drought, more than a million Afghan refugees have returned home and need to be settled and many more are expected to follow suit. Landmines clearing operations need to be expedited. Agriculture, commerce, industries, communication and other vital economic fields are to be looked into so that economy could be reactivated. Social services, education, health and other human services need to be coordinated and soon. Instead of news of launching of reconstruction and development projects the eager ears of the fiends of Afghanistan hear news of unrest, of war, of discontent. The government seems to have not been able to attract the help of professionals in Diasporas. It has called and counted on patriotic emotions of Afghans outside the country to return and help. No incentives have been envisaged. Those who have returned are gradually facing resistance by Afghans inside the country, as there seems to be huge difference in remuneration for services between the two groups. On the other hand, it is unclear in the mind of many professionals who would decide to return, as to the conditions of work, housing, expectations, positions etc. It is also a fact that the government cannot and should not plan for employing everyone who returns. The positions within the government framework are not infinite. It should encourage the private sector for investment in all fields.

Now all of this requires planning and coordinated efforts within the transitional government under the leadership of its president. There are no signs that any of these challenges have been taken up in a serious manner at any level. The president seems to be overwhelmingly preoccupied with his special politics of keeping everybody in his government and all other governments happy. This is taking too much of his time that little is left for a consideration of the dire tasks ahead of him. His vice-presidents seem to be happy only to carry the title as their responsibilities have not been defined and some are busy with other routines of the government.

Under these circumstances, questions arise as to whether Karzai needs a competent board of advisors or whether his cabinet could be activated so that it would realize the urgency of the needs of the people for security, peace and prosperity. 7/5/02