Every morning during a work stint in Afghanistan about eight years ago, I would see a young boy named Abdul at the bakery window, perhaps 14 years old. His face was full of youth and curiosity. He'd peer out, watching the world with an innocent curiosity and shy smile. One morning, Abdul was gone. A day later, his uncle, his body slumped forward in defeat, told me a powerful government official in their neighborhood had taken him away. I knew, he knew, we all knew what that meant. I went home and wept for that young boy whose name I did not know, feeling sick and helpless. His youthful face has never left me.
I’m not sure we would have had any lasting impact, although we should have ended it for the time in which we were in control as much as we were able. The Taliban undid 20 years worth of women’s empowerment in a couple of weeks, so I’m not sure our attempts at destroying a centuries long tradition would have had any more permanence than our attempts at women’s liberation did. Maybe though because it’s my understanding the Taliban take a hard line against it so maybe if we destroyed the structure the Taliban could have kept it from coming back.
Again you are bringing to light things that are hidden and shrouded in secrecy. Thank you.
I’m not sure we would have had any lasting impact, although we should have ended it for the time in which we were in control as much as we were able. The Taliban undid 20 years worth of women’s empowerment in a couple of weeks, so I’m not sure our attempts at destroying a centuries long tradition would have had any more permanence than our attempts at women’s liberation did. Maybe though because it’s my understanding the Taliban take a hard line against it so maybe if we destroyed the structure the Taliban could have kept it from coming back.