In August, US President Donald Trump announced a plan to boost US troops presence in Afghanistan, raising the number of soldiers from 8,400 to 11,000. As part of the new strategy under the Trump administration, the US military will also train and advise Afghan security forces in the fight against the growing influence of Taliban armed group. But not all Afghans are impressed with Trump’s focus on winning the war against the Taliban militarily, as it fails to address problems like unemployment, corruption and lack of education and health. Afghans are worried at the rising civilian casualties in recent years. Armed groups such as Taliban, which control large parts of the country, and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) have exacted a heavy toll on civilian lives. On the other hand, hundreds have become a collateral damage to the US drones/air raids. According to a July UN report, the number of civilians killed and wounded in Afghanistan reached a record high in the first six months of 2017.
If we look at the new US strategy, we see that both sides, the Taliban and the US, are talking about winning. It is sad to see that no one is talking about the people living in the midst of this battle. When I see so many dead and injured rushed to our hospital, it makes me wonder what is the point of this war? I am not sure what will happen in the future and what do we have to do to survive, but I know one thing that ultimately, this war has affected us tremendously, mentally and physically. You will find many people going through permanent post-traumatic stress disorder, which in most cases are not even identified, let alone being treated. We've lost hope, but as a young Afghan, I will still continue to work for this country and help as a doctor.
Seraajul-al-Din Alimi, Psychologist
It does not make any difference whether we accept the presence of the US troops in Afghanistan or not. It is happening and we, as Afghans, cannot stop it. If you look at their (US troops) method of fighting the war, it seems like they are not looking at the overall picture of the country while taking decisions. They are not looking at providing a safe future. Instead, they are focusing on winning a war. So this war is basically to claim victory but at the cost of Afghan lives. Many innocent people have died and will continue to die, with or without the US. The war has taken a toll on us. Many people have been born and brought up in this war and have a war-driven mentality. This is not normal. No child deserves to grow up in a war-torn country. So at this point, we as Afghans, would want the US troops to leave and let us decide the fate of our country ourselves. As no matter what they did in the past, they failed in pushing the Taliban back and decreasing the number of attacks.
>>> SOURCE: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/09/afghans-troop-increase-safer-170930091835342.html
- Al Jazeera speaks to Afghans about their fear and hope amid a resurgent Taliban and more American boots on the ground.
If we look at the new US strategy, we see that both sides, the Taliban and the US, are talking about winning. It is sad to see that no one is talking about the people living in the midst of this battle. When I see so many dead and injured rushed to our hospital, it makes me wonder what is the point of this war? I am not sure what will happen in the future and what do we have to do to survive, but I know one thing that ultimately, this war has affected us tremendously, mentally and physically. You will find many people going through permanent post-traumatic stress disorder, which in most cases are not even identified, let alone being treated. We've lost hope, but as a young Afghan, I will still continue to work for this country and help as a doctor.
Seraajul-al-Din Alimi, Psychologist
It does not make any difference whether we accept the presence of the US troops in Afghanistan or not. It is happening and we, as Afghans, cannot stop it. If you look at their (US troops) method of fighting the war, it seems like they are not looking at the overall picture of the country while taking decisions. They are not looking at providing a safe future. Instead, they are focusing on winning a war. So this war is basically to claim victory but at the cost of Afghan lives. Many innocent people have died and will continue to die, with or without the US. The war has taken a toll on us. Many people have been born and brought up in this war and have a war-driven mentality. This is not normal. No child deserves to grow up in a war-torn country. So at this point, we as Afghans, would want the US troops to leave and let us decide the fate of our country ourselves. As no matter what they did in the past, they failed in pushing the Taliban back and decreasing the number of attacks.
>>> SOURCE: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/09/afghans-troop-increase-safer-170930091835342.html