Women for Afghan Women
Press Release
10-17-01

In light of recent events inside Afghanistan, Women for Afghan Women would like to encourage the Bush Administration to be more responsible in their military campaign in Afghanistan. We cannot allow the demise and destruction of humanitarian aid and agencies inside Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid is vital and much needed in war and famine-ravaged Afghanistan now more than ever. We urge that compounds known to belong to international aid agencies such as The International Red Cross be given special consideration during military attacks.

World leaders have begun to discuss a post-Taliban government Afghanistan. While both President Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell have condemned the Taliban, they have suggested that factions of the Taliban might be included in efforts to restructure the Afghan government. We ask the Government of the United States and the United Nations to ensure that stability and peace is established in Afghanistan and the international community should encourage the creation of a broad-based democratic government. We ask that the people of Afghanistan to be given the right to choose their government, one that recognizes the crucial role of the local and regional communities in self-governance which worked well in earlier eras in Afghanistan. In rebuilding a democratic government, Afghan women leaders must be included. The U.S. government must make every effort to ensure that the Taliban are not represented in the new government.

Afghans must be assured that Pakistan, the chief supporter of the Taliban regime, will not interfere in the formation of a democratic government. This means that steps must also be taken to keep Pakistan from dictating the shape of the new government and also ensuring that the corrupt elements of the mujahedeen groups and the previous Communist regime be kept from any positions of power. It is the obligation of the international community to ensure that the right to self-determination of the Afghan people is upheld.