Contrary to the claims of the transitional government and its national and international well wishers, there is less movement towards rebuilding of the devastated country than was expected. Recent news even suggest of worsening security in that the US and the United Nations forces in the country are being fired upon every day and there have been casualties among the foreign troops and their national help.

Few encouraging news such as the government's decision to disarm armed groups and civilians and or the president's decree that people in power must choose between remaining in the military or becoming politicians, remain inscriptions on ice left in the sun. The constitutional committee entrusted with the drafting of a new constitutions for Afghanistan is silent. No effective step has been taken by the government in general or by its ministries to attract in an effective way the input by the Afghan intelligentsia living abroad or many technicians in a variety of fields armed with the most modern technology to get involved in the reconstruction process of Afghanistan.

The government has left it to the Afghan experts anywhere to take it upon themselves and volunteer to help. It seems it has no plans in place for encouraging participation or utilizing the expertise of the Afghans in the process. Slowly the new rulers of Afghanistan get used to the routine and enjoyment of their power. Power without accountability erodes the very fabrics of administration. Accountability, on the other hand requires the power to enforce laws. Law making machinery has not been effectively activated in the country, but the law enforcement one, mainly in the hands of the individuals, enjoy wide ranging power to the detriment of the common man on the street.

Suspicion and fear of terror dominate the minds of the people in the government. Nature isn't cooperating either. A cold winter makes life more miserable for the refugees who have returned in their hundreds of thousands from exile to conditions of homelessness, unemployment, devastated infrastructure including agricultural bases that engaged more than 85 percent of the Afghans.

It is in these conditions that there is a need for input by educated and experienced minds. The Afghan intelligentsia needed to intervene and draw effective plans of action in different fields for bettering the lot of the people, for streamlining the affairs of the government and for starting- jump-starting, the process of reconstruction. But that intelligentsia remains aloof and apathetic as it has not been asked in an effective and planned way to participate. No provision has been envisaged for its participation either. No measure has been taken to attract it to return to Afghanistan. No plans for its housing, and living condition has been worked out. The politicians in charge have from time to time, in their passionate speeches, called for the intelligentsia to help and have left the rest to the conscience of its members. But conscience alone does not provide for transportation to the country, for living there and for contributing. Peace and security have not been improved either and guarantees for utilization of the expert advice has not been made. All of this lead to a further alienation of the intelligentsia from the transitional administration. This is not good, as foreign experts lack practical knowledge of the social and cultural implications of their views in the context of the Afghan nation. Also because many a time, Afghan problems require Afghan solutions.

It is therefore that the government and that the politicians in charge need to reconcile the Afghan intelligentsia and use its expertise, knowledge and sympathies for achieving of the important tasks of the transitional period. Failure to do so would result in delays in the process of nation building.

On the other hand, if and when the Afghan intelligentsia is awakened to its responsibility, there should be an avalanche of papers, research work, plans and projects in every field involving nation building, construction, reconstruction and reviving of the economy of Afghanistan. Were the intelligentsia not left in its apathetic mood, it would produce papers and suggestions for the drafting of constitution, for planning of a national army, for maintaining of security, for renovation of the system of government including the routine work of the ministries. It would serve as true advisers for rebuilding Afghanistan. 12/21/02