What is the Ideas Shura?
The Ideas Shura is a Global Friends of Afghanistan initiative that aims to provide a platform for Afghan youth residing inside and outside the country to share their opinions and proposals with the people of Afghanistan (primarily) and the international community (secondarily) on important policy questions about their country.
All young people under the age of 29, either individually or in groups, are eligible to participate in this essay-writing initiative and other projects.
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"Their inconsistent behaviour on the global stage has systematically eroded their credibility and trustworthiness as diplomatic partners. This has led to scepticism among the international community, raising doubts about their suitability for future governance."
Quotes from the Ideas Shura
Khalid N:
"The challenges that Afghanistan faces in its quest for stable governance are multifaceted and complex. While the past has shown that extreme ideologies and hastily introduced democracies fall short of meeting the Afghan people's needs, an intermediate Islamic governance model offers a potential path forward. By blending Islamic principles with modern governance ideals, this model aims to build a society that is tolerant, just, and prosperous, reflecting the true aspirations of the Afghan people. It's a synthesis that recognizes Afghanistan's unique context and the universal values that can guide its future towards a more stable and harmonious era."
Khadija I:
"The future government needs first to gain people's trust, then gradually move to a decentralized government to help our war-torn nation stand back on its feet.
By gradual process, the first and foremost step is to draft a constitution that would highly revere the rights of people. The constitution should be drafted to make all the nation believe that we are part of the upcoming change in Afghanistan once they feel that they will feel responsible towards the nation and government.
The next step would be for the future government to refrain from using terminologies or speeches stating that we are a federal government. They should first come up with speeches or terminology that is acceptable to the people of Afghanistan. For example, if they say we want a federal system, the word “federal” was always controversial and used negatively in Afghanistan. After that, there should be elections at the district level. The district council needs to feel they are needed in the government. So, once we have elected members at the district level, then from these elected members, they should elect provincial council members.
Then, after all that, without changing the district and provincial boundaries, we need to develop a strategy for bringing several provinces under one region."
Nasrin:
"Safeguarding human rights means Safeguarding freedom of expression and media- the right to access information through independent media that can hold power accountable and facilitate public discourse
Human rights are safeguarding the rights of the minority, gender equality-equal rights, and opportunities for women and girls, including access to education and participation in decision-making processes.
There is lack of any political commitment to the values of human rights right now in Afghanistan and its exclusion as a civic doctrine in textbooks and curriculums of the educational system, instead, terrorist and extremist indoctrination through corrupted/distorted education systems has taken place.
Sabawoon:
"Suppression of civil resistance and women’s rights: In Kabul and beyond, brave women have taken to the streets to demand their rights and a more equitable future. However, instead of listening to their pleas, the Taliban responded with brutal force. Women activists have faced violent crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and even torture.
Minority Rights: The Taliban's stark division of the Afghan nation into "us" and "them" , The Taliban and the Afghan nation has further perpetuated the perception of nationwide marginalization. This division is symbolically highlighted by their treatment of national symbols, designating their flag as the flag of "Amarat-e-Islami" and the tri-color national flag as the flag of Afghanistan. They explicitly state that the Afghan nation should adhere to one set of norms while the Taliban adhere to another. This symbolic gesture starkly reflects their exclusionary ideology, which manifests itself in their governance.
Exclusion: The Taliban's exclusivity is evident in their refusal to grant employment opportunities to anyone outside their ranks. This situation results in their members monopolizing jobs and positions of power. A clear illustration of this is the fact that virtually all government seats and jobs are held by Mullahs and Akhunds, with little regard for professionalism in these roles."
Anonymous:
نرخ بیسوادی در افغانستان بالاست، دسترسی به برق و خدمات مخابراتی و شبکه اینترنت نیز محدود است، فرهنگ سنتی و ارزشهای قبیلهای همچنان به جای قانون عمل میکند و یک دولت متعهد به ارزشهای حقوق بشری که ارادهای برای ترویج همگانی آن داشته باشد، وجود ندارد. فقدان یک تعهد سیاسی قوی در قبال ارزشهای حقوق بشری در عین حال، مانع گنجاندن آن به مثابه یک آموزه مدنی در متن کتب درسی یا نظام آموزشی شدهاست و چه بسا جای آن را آموزههای ضد حقوق بشری و افراطگرایانه گرفتهاست.
Rashid Amiri:
"The longer the Taliban remain in power, the more they will pose a serious threat to global security and the security of regional countries. The Taliban’s current and past actions represent their future role in Afghanistan.
While there are still a group of Afghans who support the Taliban despite their inhumane actions, we should always remember that their other ethnicities in Afghanistan, such as Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, etc., are not at peace and their rights are being egregiously violated."
Sabawon Durani:
Reports of the Taliban's stringent policies, particularly those infringing on women's rights and individual freedoms, highlight their prioritization of military tactics over governance, presenting significant challenges to their transition into a legitimate government.
As a result of their limited education and exposure, the Taliban faces significant challenges in effectively governing Afghanistan. Their decision-making processes, policy formulation, and implementation often lack the depth and sophistication required for modern governance.
The absence of political pluralism and the suppression of diverse political voices within Afghanistan have fuelled concerns about the Taliban's willingness to embrace democratic values. Their preference for a single-party system and lack of inclusivity have further eroded international trust.
Internal unity among the Taliban has deteriorated, with various factions often prioritizing personal interests over a shared national vision. The leadership lacks a common purpose and frequently finds itself in disagreement, leading to disunity in critical areas such as decision-making and strategic objectives.
It becomes evident that the future political role of the Taliban in Afghanistan is at a crossroads. The path they choose will determine whether they dissolve into irrelevance or actively participate in shaping the future democracy of the nation.
Their inconsistent behaviour on the global stage has systematically eroded their credibility and trustworthiness as diplomatic partners. This has led to scepticism among the international community, raising doubts about their suitability for future governance.
Past conflicts have left loyal fighters disillusioned and disheartened, resulting in an alarming exodus from their ranks. This internal discord undermines their unity and public support."
Zabi Arbab:
"A change in the political status quo of Afghanistan is crucial. Educated and skilled leaders who are knowledgeable about governance should be identified to lead this change."
Zabiullah Arbab on an alternative to Taliban:
“To identify individuals that are administration and governance potent and can make an alternative to Taliban, a mechanism may be implemented. This can be a program like the Ideas Shura where talented individuals can gather, share comments and proposals for a list of issues and may be evaluated by certified and professional people. the executors of this program can be group of NGOs or UN entities, the outcome of this program later be shared, and these new faces can contribute in government Faces that already had participation in previous regimes may be excluded of this group and not given a chance to participate due to their failure in previous roles or a connection to previous official”
Introduction
The Ideas Shura is an initiative that aims to provide a platform for Afghan youth residing inside and outside the country to share their opinions and proposals with the people of Afghanistan (primarily) and the international community (secondarily) on important policy questions about their country. All young people under the age of 29, either individually or in groups, are eligible to participate in this essay-writing initiative.
Call for Submissions
The Ideas Shura invites all young people from Afghanistan inside and outside the country to submit essays in line with the guidelines.