One of the important tasks entrusted to the transitional government of Afghanistan was establishing of a transitional legislature. This was considered essential, if the return of the country to the rule of law was to be achieved. Unfortunately, like a number of other issues, the transitional government has failed to meet its obligation in this connection. As a result, the spirit of the constitution of 1964 is implemented with interpretations provided to it by the head of the transitional government and his cabinet. This, therefore, is not the democracy the world wanted for Afghanistan.

Among many issues that the said legislature would have taken up was the issue of political parties and their functioning. At this stage in the life of the country when the clock ticks rather rapidly in the direction of the end of the transitional term at which time, new elections for a permanent government would be called, the need for regulating of political parties and their functions becomes vital.

Post-Taleban Afghanistan inherited for the most part faction politics by a variety of factions and the politics of arms accumulated by a variety of warlords. Although many of the warlords do not like the terminology and would rather be called freedom fighters, they in actuality are true warlords because presently they are neither politicians, nor official soldiers. But they rule only because of their military power.

There are also groups organized on the basis of geography, ethnicity or religion and culture. Many claim seniority in matters of Afghan politics mainly because their movement existed during the hard years of the struggle against forces of occupation by the Soviet Union They call themselves Mujahids. This term, to the uninitiated has confusing meaning. Mujahid means a follower of the principles of Jihad that is struggle against injustice in all its forms and especially against aggression upon the national honors and sovereign rights of nations. Some narrow- minded interpretation of the term refers to the confrontation of the pious against the pagan or followers of other religions.

What is important is to realize that the term in any and all of its meanings does not mean fighting for acquisition of political power or occupying of positions within the ruling clique. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan, the so called muhjahideen (plural for mujahid) reason that because they took the risk in the long fight for freedom and fought the invading forces of the Soviet Union, they should be the true rulers of the country. This therefore is nothing more than a selfish stand that is not in par with the characteristics of true Islamic Mujahideen of yore.

This situation has given rise to an increasing worry on the part of people who do not ascribe to factional or the so-called Jihadi groupings, but would like to take part in the shaping up of the country's political future.

For this purpose, even some members of the so-called mujaideen factions, sequestered from their main affiliations have started to establish new parties in order to be able to match new and emerging political movements. Some other individuals and parties and even movements also have started to declare their existence and their will to participate in the political restructuring of the country especially during the next elections.

Only in the last month many parties and individuals in a variety of manners made it known that they would be contenders for power in the coming elections on the termination of the transitional government. The head of the transitional government, Mr. Karzai himself has made non-committing remarks about his participation in the elections. He has said, he (might) not run next time and would give a chance for others to lead the government. However, all indications are that he will definitely run and that he has a fat chance in getting elected provided his rivals are not clever enough to drive home the issue that he has not been extremely successful in fulfilling of the obligations of the transitional government.

The number of new political parties established recently in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan alone reaches dozens. A group as big as forty- five parties recently announced establishment of the National Democratic Front of Afghanistan, a loosely affiliated coalition aiming to face off the now almost traditional political movements of factions. Another group calling itself the National Movement of Afghanistan already existed and would serve as rival to the front.

All of the above would make Kabul the capital of Afghanistan an interesting stage to be observed by spectators and students of politics. It will also serve as new political machinery to shape up the country's future, to remedy the country's many ills, and to put the country on the true path of reconstruction, reconciliation, peace and prosperity. It also gives a chance for the Afghans in Diaspora and its intelligentsia to consider playing a sobering and more effective role in the shaping of the country's political panorama. 03/29/03