Who is responsible for the death and destruction in Afghanistan?



Dr. Mahfuz Parvez, Associate Editor, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Conflict, counter-conflict, war has been going on in Afghanistan for almost fifty years. Soviet forces came first. The Mujahideen groups removed them. They were removed by the Taliban. Northern Alliance removes Taliban. Then came the US-backed Hamid Karzai government. Then the government of Ashraf Ghani took the chrage. And finally the Taliban came again. It is unknown at this time how long they will stay. Afghanistan is still in the throes of instability.

These past or present shifts have not been peaceful. The whole country is on the path of blood, death and destruction. Afghans have become the world's second and Asia's top refugees. I don't know how many women, children and people have died. Who is responsible for this long period of conflict, death, destruction and loss?

Ordinary people in Afghanistan can ask the answer to this question. They can make demands like that famous dialogue of Kolkata's famous film 'Sobar Upory' acted by Uttam Kumar and Chabi Biswas. In the film, the son defends his father and wins to free his father Chabi Biswas, who was convicted in a false case. ‘Give me back those twelve years'. Not only the dialogue but also the expression of a helpless proletariat as portrayed in the picture, the fate of the entire Afghan nation seems to be in such a miserable, helpless situation. Who will give them back so many years, so much blood, so much death, so much destruction?

The United States is assessing the pros and cons of the Afghan question. There is intense debate over the highly sensitive Afghanistan issue. Ignoring those arguments at all, President Joe Biden called his decision "correct." Biden's retreat from Afghanistan in the US national interest appears to be "far-sighted" in the "cost of war" project described by two well-known American universities. However, the question remains in the face of divided American public opinion as to whether Bush, Obama, Trump, who sent troops to Afghanistan, were right or whether Biden made the right decision by withdrawing troops. All this is now circulating in American think tanks and scholars.

On the other hand, the Kennedy School at Harvard University and the Watson Institute at Brown University have calculated the enormous casualties of the Afghan war which justified Biden's withdrawal. This is because it is clear from a review of how many lives the United States has paid and taken in Afghanistan in years of incessant war at unlimited cost.

According to Cost of War, 6,307 Americans have died in Afghanistan in the last 20 years. 2,461 of them are American soldiers and 3,846 American contractors. On the other hand, the number of Taliban killed in 20 years is 51,191.

In addition to the United States, the multinational NATO forces came down to overthrow the Taliban. In addition to the United States, which is a member of NATO, there are about 30 countries, including Britain. In 20 years, 1,141 American soldiers have died in those countries. In addition, 66000 Afghan soldiers and police who fought for the United States have died. Even among the volunteer organizations that stood by the army by extending a helping hand in emergencies, 444 of them were killed in the army-Taliban clashes.

Many journalists have been killed in different stages of the 20-year long war. The last name in the list is Pulitzer Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui. Another 71 people like him have lost their lives trying to cover the situation in Afghanistan. They were all on the battlefield.

But the worst news is that 47,245 non-Afghan civilians were killed on the battlefield those who are living in Afghanistan at a price. Even before leaving, 10 members of the same Afghan family were killed in a US drone strike in response to a rocket attack at the airport. Seven of them are children and minors.

According to the Watson Institute at Brown University, the United States has spent a total of 2.313 trillion since its invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. The issue of spending has only happened inside Afghanistan. Apart from this, there is a huge amount of rehabilitation, compensation, medical and insurance expenses for the disabled. The lion's share of America's post-9/11 war spending has been spent on Afghanistan. And during this period, about three lakh people on both sides have been injured, killed or displaced; the picture of the humanitarian catastrophe is also tragic.

As a result, Biden's departure from the hugely costly, unprofitable and fruitless 'Afghan project' in view of America's financial decline, unemployment and other crises, which have hit the Corona hard, has eroded America's 'image' or 'supremacy'. This money will now be able to be spent on urgent public health and other socio-humanitarian sectors.

However, the US military left Afghanistan a minute before the 31st of August touched the calendar. The whole world was stunned to see the last American soldier walking with his head bowed in the dark of night. Many at the time thought the regret of an almost paralyzed American soldier was, ‘Did we lose so much to see this day!’ Yet Biden stands on the ground of reality, far removed from emotion. Veteran Biden has calculated the real gains and losses of the American national interest without looking at the insanity of the Taliban or the anger of the opposition. In his address to the nation shortly after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden reiterated his commitment to Afghan policy. He said the decision to withdraw troops was "absolutely correct". He claimed that this was the only way to end the longest war in the history of the country. It has also put an end to failed attempts to rebuild other countries with the help of the army.

But Biden assured that 98 percent of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan had been rescued. He made a "promise" to repatriate the remaining 200-300 Americans safely. "I am responsible for the decision," he said. 'Someone might say it should have been done earlier. I do not agree with that. If the army had withdrawn sooner, civil war would have started in that country, 'he said.

When Biden was vice president, he opposed Afghan policy and troop deployments. Despite being elected president, he emphasized the need to withdraw troops. Repeatedly he said, 'I believe it is a very accurate and prudent decision. I promised my countrymen that I would end the war. We were not ready to continue this war forever. '

Biden, however, vowed that the United States would continue to fight terrorism even if it withdraws troops. According to analysts, Biden's war will not be aggressive, it will be tactical as he has done firmly on the Afghan issue. While former President Donald Trump has strongly condemned Biden's Afghan policy, Biden has stuck to his decision.

As a result, in the near future, the mountain-like 'Cost of War' and the real responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe will be determined in Afghanistan. The answer to the question of whether Bush, Obama and Trump were right in sending troops to Afghanistan or whether Biden made the right decision by withdrawing troops will be known one day. History must evaluate the activities of the Soviet, American, Mujahideen, Taliban, etc. forces. If not today, but in the near future, the Afghan generation will surely raise these questions. One day it will be recorded, who or what has forced the country called Afghanistan to cross the path of so many lives and destruction?

   

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari passes away



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of a heart attack.

The 63-year-old politician died on Thursday (March 28) around 8:30 pm while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Earlier, the jail authorities took him to the district's Rani Durgavati Medical College Hospital after he fainted in the jail last Tuesday. Later a team of nine doctors provided immediate medical attention to him. But, despite their best efforts, he died after 14 hours in the ICU.

Indian media NDTV reported that this 5-time MP from Uttar Pradesh has been in jail since 2005.

A large contingent of police was deployed outside the hospital soon after Ansari was taken to the hospital and prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been issued across Uttar Pradesh following his death, news agency PTI reported.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said additional policemen have been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur and Varanasi districts as well as Central Reserve Police Force.

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The ICJ ordered Israel to take steps to stop the famine in Gaza



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to take necessary and effective measures to stop the spread of famine in the besieged Palestinian Gaza Strip.

On Thursday (March 28), the International Court of Justice unanimously gave the order to Israel. But Hamas leaders say a ceasefire is necessary to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

South Africa asked the court for new measures as part of a case accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza. Later the court gave this order.

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take necessary and effective measures to ensure basic food supplies for the Palestinian population and to stop the spread of famine, Reuters reported. The order came as Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters battled around Gaza's Al Shifa hospital.

The people of Gaza are going to face worse conditions, the court judges said. The court observed that the people of Gaza are not only at risk of famine but that famine has already begun, the judges said in the order.

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said the verdict was not enough. Israel must be ordered to cease military attacks to end the suffering.

He added, "We welcome any new demands to end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, especially in the northern Gaza Strip, but we hope that the court will order a ceasefire as a solution to the misery our people in Gaza are living through."

There was no immediate comment from Israel's Foreign Ministry on the International Court of Justice ruling.

The UN Security Council voted on Tuesday to demand an immediate ceasefire and the immediate unconditional release of all hostages. The United States abstained from voting, but did not veto.

 

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76 more killed in Gaza, death toll rises to nearly 32,500



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Even after the UN Security Council passed a cease-fire resolution, the Israeli barbaric attacks on the Palestinian-besieged Gaza have not stopped. Another 76 Palestinians were killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours by Israeli attacks. The death toll has increased to about 32,500 people. The number of injured has reached about 75000 people.

Al-Jazeera reported this information in a live update on Thursday (March 28).

Quoting the Ministry of Health of Gaza, the report said that since last October, the number of dead in Palestine has reached 32490 in the Israeli barbaric attack in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, an emergency ceasefire resolution was passed in the besieged Gaza Strip. The resolution passed by the UN Security Council on Monday (March 25) calls for a cease-fire in Gaza as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas.

In this proposal, 14 countries of the Security Council voted in favor of the proposal. Israel's close ally, the United States, abstained from voting.

Welcoming the proposal, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, after a long wait, the Security Council has passed a resolution regarding the cease-fire in Gaza. This proposal must be implemented. Failure of any party to implement the ceasefire and its terms would constitute an unforgivable offence. 

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Israel wants to wipe out Palestinians: UN



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Gazans are going through one of the worst times in living memory. The lives of Palestinians are in danger due to the long-term killings and severe food shortages. The world is criticizing the surprise attack on the destitute Gazans. However, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to stop the attack. In this situation, the international organization, which could not find any solution after repeated efforts, said that Israel is going to wipe out the Palestinians.

On Monday (March 25), the special envoy for human rights in Palestine, Francesca Albanez, released her detailed report. She said that since the start of the attack, Israel has targeted Gazans. The Israeli forces assumed that these Gazans could be attacked, killed, or even destroyed. Israel's genocidal action has become clear through this. They are trying to erase Palestinians from Palestine.

The news agency AFP reported this information.

According to the report, Albanez attacked Israel in harsh language at the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council. She said Israel destroyed Gaza. She also said, 'What is happening in Gaza shows the intention of genocide. We cannot turn away from it. We have to face it, we have to stop this genocide and action must be taken against those who took this step.''

Francesca Albanez is working as Special Envoy for Palestinian Human Rights. She told the United Nations Human Rights Council last Monday that the organization's member states should end arms embargoes against Israel and arms supplies to Israel.

Support for the UN expert panel, which has been working on allegations of genocide against Israel since the start of Israel's assault on Gaza, has been growing in Palestine. Various countries are now showing interest in investigating the allegations of genocide.

Ambassadors of different countries are supporting this report of Albanez. Ambassadors from Muslim and Arab countries, as well as Latin American countries, are among those supporting Albanez's report to hold Israel accountable.

Pakistan has supported this Albanez report on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The OIC has also called for an arms embargo on Israel. When Albanez presented the report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Pakistan's representative said, "We appreciate your courage in documenting the genocide in Gaza."

Accusations of genocide against Israel are intensifying as it continues to operate in Gaza's Rafah area in defiance of international calls. The Ministry of Health of Palestine said on Wednesday that 76 people were killed in the attack in the last 24 hours. With this, 32490 people have been killed in Israel's attacks since October 7.

The representative of Egypt, on behalf of the Arab countries, said they were deeply concerned about Israel's structural and systematic attack on the Gaza Strip, making it uninhabitable. Qatar represented the Gulf countries in the meeting. They want international action to stop the war that Israel is waging in Palestine. 

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