Does anti-government coalition mean salvation of the country?

 

Since the past several weeks, the Afghan government is confronting political oppositions both within and outside the government. It was due to these political oppositions that three Afghan political parties, Junbish-e-Mili, Wahdat-e-Islami and Jamiat-e-Islami formed the “The High Council of Coalition for Salvation of Afghanistan” in General Dustom’s house in Turkey.

The fundamental demands of the new alliance (NUG) were full implementation of the NUG agreement, restoration of the powers of the first Vice President, reformation of security sectors, elimination of imbalance between the ministries as well as provinces, preventing the expansion of insecuritiesto the North, dismissal of the National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar, and etc[1].

The announcement of the coalition followed by various reactions within the country. The Presidential Palace said that it would welcome any scheme to bring reforms but added that all parties had played a part in the creation of current problems because the members of this alliance were also part of the government and the government’s achievements and failures were directly related to their performance as well. [2] The head of Mashrano Jirga Fazel Hadi Muslimyar stated that the founders of the new coalition have to resign. [3]

What is the purpose of this  anti-government coalition is it becoming an opposition force or  it means to serve the personal interests? What are the motives behind such alliance? Do these anti-government coalitions mean the salvation of the country? These questions and other similar questions are discussed here.

 

The anti-government coalition and oppositions

It is a principle of the governance in the democratic and liberal societies to form alliances and opposition groups out of the government’s framework. They monitor government policies and deeds and criticize it. Apart from the western democratic principles, in Islam, this behavior is considered a better Jihad and the individuals’ ethical duty. Therefore, except for the tyrant and dictator regimes, almost in all other societies the presence of such opposition groups is accepted.

In the past one century of the Afghan history, the constitutionalism movement was the first opposition group. After it came “Weekh Zalmyan” and then in the decade of democracy, various ideological, political and even military coalitions and oppositions were established in the country.

In the past 15 years, occasionally such anti-government political alliances were formed and were annihilated by their very founders. Even during the NUG, it is not the first anti-government coalition, before this, the Council for Protection and Stability of Afghanistan under Ustad Sayyaf and some other small alliances were formed within the NUG’s tenure.

 

What are the objectives of the new coalition?

The coalition that was formed in Turkey have pointed out a number of issues in their statement, which were mentioned above, but here we have pointed out the possible aims of this coalition:

Opposition: in all over the world the oppositions of the governments are not in the government and even if they were at first part of the government, they resign due to their principle disagreements and become the government’s opposition groups. It never happens that a group be a part of the government and in the meanwhile its opposition and claim the achievements of the government to be theirs’ and the failures of the government to be of others’. Therefore, the current coalition is not an opposition alliance. The main point to be considered about this coalitions is the execution of the NUG agreement and the restorations of the powers of the First Vice President. The two pivotal stakeholders of the NUG agreement are the President and the Chief Executive. The implementation of the deal was the Chief Executive’s demand in the past and is his demand now as well. It is not surprising that neither the Chief Executive nor his first deputy but his second deputy expresses such a demand.

The collapse of the government: since the formation of the NUG, a number of movements were formed to overthrow the government such as the call for Loya Jirga, and the demand to form an interim government, etc. However, these movements are yet to produce an outcome. Although the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan could have been demanded in the political meetings within the country and it was demanded in these meetings as well, the follow up of such demands by all other political parties, except Hezb-e-Islami, raises many doubts. The question is, in the current circumstances that the government’s tenure is about to come to an end, can they overthrow the government? Nevertheless, to a greater extent, the answer to this question will be negative.

Safeguarding personal interests; if one evaluates the formation and the demands of the Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan, one will conclude that it is formed to serve the interests of the parties and individuals that have formed it. The fact that the first Vice President is involved in Ishchi’s case and that Ata Mohammad Noor and that Dr. Abdullah Abdullah are engaged with each other in the internal politics of Jamiat-e-Islami supports the argument mentioned above.

 

Will the Coalition for the “Salvation of Afghanistan” be able to save the country?

After a review of the past four decades in the country, we can say that all the coalitions and groups that were formed to protect the country did not have desiring outcomes. The various Jehadi groups and the Bonn (2001) agreement are its examples. The coalition formed in Turkey is not an exception either and cannot save the country due to the following factors:

First; the current situation in the country is not emerged because of the NUG, and it is rather rooted back in the past four decades. However, the main factor is the developments in the past 15 years. Most of the players and members of the current coalition are the architects and stakeholders of the regime in the past 15 years.

Second; three parties of the coalition (Junbish-e-Mili, Wahdat-e-Mili, and Jamiat-e-Islami) are themselves the principal pillars of the current regime. The head of Junbish-e-Mili is the first Vice President. The head of Wahdat-e-Mili is the second deputy of the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive of Jamiat-e-Islami is the governor of Balkh and the Chief Executive and the Afghan Foreign Minister, and Minister of Economy are members of Jamiat-e-Islami. The fact that these senior officials only blames the President and some others for the current situation in the country, to a larger extent, seems irrational and false.

Third; in most of the countries in the world, there exists the principle of Cabinet Collective Responsibility. Based on this principle, once the decision is made, everyone has to support it in front of the public even if they disagree with the decision personally. If their disagreement was very fundamental, they resign to show their opposition.

Fourth and the most important; in its statement, the new coalition has demanded the dismissal of some people and changing policies. Such moves would not have desiring outcomes unless they are not replaced with entirely new personalities. Given the current circumstances, this coalition will demand the placement of its people, those who are repetitive individuals in the past fifteen years.

The end

[1] Pakhto News, «د افغانستان د نجات د ایتلاف عالي شورا اعلامیه» [The statement of the High Council of Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan], see online:

http://www.pakhtonews.com/index.php/39-breaking-news/471-2017-06-30-10-50-03

[2] Kabul News, «د افغانستان د نجات عالي شورا د ملي یووالي حکومت هوکړه‌لیک بشپړ عملي کېدل غواړي» [the High Council of Coalition for the Salvation of Afghanistan demands the complete implementation of the NUG agreement], read it here:

http://www.kabulnews.af/pashto/index.php/afghanistan/11155-2017-07-01-14-16-09

[3] Azadi Radio, «مسلمیار: د نوي اېتلاف جوړونکي باید له دندو استعفاوې ورکړي» [Muslimyar: those who has formed the recent coalition must resign], 10 Saratan 1396 solar year, read it here:

 https://pa.azadiradio.com/a/28589644.html