None of the governments in the south central Asian region have a mission as clearly cut out for them as that of the post-Taleban Afghanistan. After about a quarter of a century of turmoil, the world led by the United States provided the Afghans with a chance to stop fighting, work for peace and reconciliation and start the process of reconstruction. The Afghan nation welcomed this opportunity by easily preparing for the grand national council or the Loya Jirga to meet and by sacrificing many of their convictions and ideologies, to accept a transitional government only to let the process of recuperation begin.

There is no doubt there were many behind-the-scenes maneuverings, local, regional and even international power plays, and a lot of politicking that influenced the convening of the Loya Jirga and its decisions. Many of the delegates to the Loya Jirga left the 'Tent' unsatisfied, confused and perplexed. Nevertheless, the whole nation and the world at large opened their hearts optimistically to accept and well wish the transitional government. The transitional government was to work hard for the Afghan nation. It was expected to embark upon the following tasks:

· Establishing of a fully representative transitional parliament.
· Starting the process of writing of a new draft constitution
· Embarking upon, seriously, training and creation of a national army
· Embarking upon creation of a truly national police force
· Starting the process of weakening and abolishing the power of warlords
· Developing of a viable central authority that would equally represent all provinces
· Introducing and upholding the rule of law
· Reviving, reconstructing and resuscitating of the country's dilapidated economic infrastructure.
· Developing priorities to bring relief to the needy including the residents and the returning refugees
· Fighting hunger and disease
· Providing for upholding of human rights without any form of discrimination
· Embarking upon conflict resolution in the Afghan society
· Providing safe environment for the Afghans to peacefully work, live and prosper

But presently, it would seem that the government acts as if it were oblivious of its historic mission. It has not even established its priorities. Sometimes, it says it would rebuild the statues of Budha in Bamiyan as a priority. It has not done much against hunger and disease and mine cleaning and improvement of irrigational systems or small industries, to cite a few. The government ministries have fallen into the abyss of what I call futile non-productive routine of paperwork and exercising of authority over unruly subordinates. Some ministers are happy traveling abroad rather than staying home and meeting the great challenges of turning the wheels of government. For example, the foreign minister took the trouble of traveling all the way to Morocco, of all the places, last week, as if going to Morocco was one of the greatest priorities of his ministry. Reports indicate that the chief of Afghan Radio and Television practices gender discrimination and does not allow the work of female artists to be broadcast or telecast. And when the minister of information and culture, failing to convince him to give up his ancient practices, sends him a pink slip, he tears that apart and claims that no one but the person of the president can fire him.

Other reports talk of the helplessness of the high-ranking government appointees in dealing with the officials belonging to the so-called northern alliance. This feeling has even been expressed regarding the person of the president who some say is extremely soft vis-à-vis his dealings with the powerful warlords and their agents.

At a wider scope, news had it that a coalition of six provincial governors that rule the provinces of Uruzgan, Kandahar, Farah, Neemroze, Helmand and Ghore, on their own initiative have decided to ask the US forces for getting their clearance for the US military operations against terrorism in their regions. They have further decided on the deployment of a 500-strong emergency force for fighting remnants of Taleban and Al-Qaida as well as a 3000-strong force guarding the country's borders with Iran and Pakistan in southern and western Afghanistan independent of the capital Kabul.

Apart from an inconclusive meeting last week in Kabul about the establishment of a parliament, none of the tasks listed above have been seriously undertaken by the central government.

Considering the above, some are tempted to ask if there were a true government in place in post-Taleban Afghanistan at all? Some only hope that the transitional government renders an effort to change into a viable authority. Such an authority is needed direly at this period in Afghan history. 07/12/02