LETTER | A thousand times over

LETTER | Life comes full circle with the Taliban’s capture of Afghanistan. On the fateful Sept 11, 2001, I was sweeping the lawn when daddy screamed “US under attack!”, I hurried in to see the towers falling to their debris. 

Fast forward to 2021, I was munching cookies when dad beckoned to join him to watch BBC news on the Taliban’s advance to Kabul. The Washington Post used the word blitzed when describing their progress to the capital, drawing parallels to Germany’s blitzkrieg that overran much of Europe within days during the Second World War. 

UK's former defence minister Johnny Mercer said that it was deeply humiliating to see the work over two decades overturned so quickly. By evening, the Taliban has toppled the western-backed government while the president fled, ending the US-led invasion in its longest war in history.

Taliban’s spokesperson declared that the war is over. Twenty years of deaths, destruction, and destitution in the name of war against terror armed with the latest military technology crumbled in less than a year following Nato’s withdrawal in May 2021. 

Many still remember why the US went to war in Afghanistan aided by supporters who were coerced by his “you are either with us or against us” rhetoric. Post-Sept 11, Bush retaliated by launching the “war on terror” against two Muslim nations: Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

The war machinery led by the media played to the sentiments, trauma, and vulnerabilities of 9/11 through repeated footages of the collapsing World Trade Centre leading to Islamophobia and attacks against Islam. Bush’s rhetoric continued with him calling the “war on terror” as a “crusade,” a loaded term evoking the history of the medieval wars. 

Muslims were treated as enemies, harassed, restrained, and detained indiscriminately. Carefree lives crisscrossing a globally connected world turned upside down. Shoes had to be removed (especially for a Muslim wearing headscarf like me). 

No sharp objects, metal cutlery, and liquid allowed. A long list of security measures everywhere. The humiliation, discrimination, and vitriol against Muslims were insurmountable. We preserved. Patience is a virtue.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad denounced the “war on terror” because Malaysia commits to the non-use of force in conflict resolution, opposed the possession or use of weapons of mass destruction, and was firmly against unilateralism. 

We advocated a discourse approach because weapons cannot win against ideology based on our experience handling communism for 42 years. We must understand the cause of terrorism. Nobody would willingly kill themselves without a purpose.

To fight what’s in their mind, we must delve into their psyche. Understanding is the first step to counter, eliminate and eventually neutralize terrorism. The powers chose to give war a chance and went in head-first. 

It was such an irony for an American band to sing “go big or go home, I gave the dice a roll, and then we lost control, you know we're lucky that we survived, cause when we jumped the ship.”  You got it dude cause the Americans are coming home.

The Afghans must be living in fear and worried about what the future holds. The international community is observing intently the events unfolding while the western media is scrambling to defend and preserve whatever remnants of grace and legacies they have left in Afghanistan. 

Taliban has been issuing statements indicating a moderate tone than during their years in power from 1996 to 2001. Among the promises made include respecting the rights of women, providing access to education and work, creating a peaceful and safe environment, general amnesty to those working with the invaders, and establishing an inclusive government.

The international community must keep a close watch on the humanitarian aspect for the sake of the people because when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. I can only imagine how they are feeling right now, and I will be keeping them in my prayers. 

Malaysians can empathise with the situation since we too are trapped in the incessant power tussle coveting to sit atop the hierarchical structure amidst the pandemic. Thankfully our vaccination drive has accelerated with more than 40 percent of the adult population had received two doses of vaccine and more than 50 percent of the total population had received at least a single dose. Some hope at last.

There is a massive amount of love residing in the hearts of Malaysians as we face Covid-19 heads-on. Some hearts love power and spend every moment plotting. Some hearts love money and maximise profit even at the expense of others. But many hearts have an undying and deep love for Malaysia. 

The selfless souls who went around helping each other even if they don’t have enough. These hearts will always be praying and helping the oppressed, marginalised, broken, and forgotten at home and elsewhere.

US’ legacy in Afghanistan will reverberate for many years to come. Lessons from this episode are two-fold: we must contribute and sacrifice for our country and not expect foreigners to do it for us. 

Countries must play a proactive role and not passively accept the dictates of the powerful nations because Afghanistan has exposed a deep system failure at the global stage. 

Because when the going gets tough, the powers leave the people behind instead of get going. I’ll end with a quote from the tear-jerking Afghan’s novel The Kite Runner, "for you, a thousand times over”.

Malaysia is ours to protect, a thousand times over, not anybody else’s.  

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.