Statement
by Congressman Joseph R. Pitts
International
Relations Committee Hearing:
The Future of Afghanistan
November 7, 2001
Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding
this important hearing on The Future of Afghanistan.
Various governmental and extra-governmental bodies around the world seek
to impose their own views and plans on the Afghan people.
History clearly shows that this will never bring lasting peace and
stability to Afghanistan. The
people need to be free to choose their own leaders.
A new structure has been formed by the Afghan people which seeks to
restore peace and stability in Afghanistan under the symbolic leadership of His
Majesty and The Supreme Council for Unity of Afghanistan.
It is vital that the United States actively support the work of the
Supreme Council as they coordinate and convene a Loya Jirga, or a Grand
Assembly, the traditional Afghan method of national reconciliation. A State Department poll three months ago showed the Afghan
people overwhelmingly support holding this traditional gathering.
It is only under the Supreme Council’s Loya Jirga that the security,
humanitarian, and other concerns of the Afghan people, the United States, and
other nations will be met sufficiently.
As has been clearly documented, the
people of Afghanistan have suffered terribly under the Taliban regime which
claimed it would make the nation a place of security and safety for the people.
There has been no safety for ethnic minorities.
Instead there have been massacres conducted against them.
Contrary to Taliban claims, there has been no safety or dignity restored
for women. Instead there is
increased prostitution and more women begging than anytime before the Soviet
invasion. The Taliban claim that
they restored peace and security, but women are not allowed outside their homes.
The Taliban took away women’s rights to education and employment, yet
the Prophet Mohammed’s first employer was a female.
The contradictions in the Taliban’s claims are rife.
The tragic irony is that the only people for whom the Taliban have made
Afghanistan safe are Bin Laden and his terrorists.
Our nation must restore our credibility
in the eyes of the people of Afghanistan and the surrounding region.
We must tell the people of Afghanistan that even though our government
disengaged after their war with Russia and their loss of at least 1.5 million
lives, the American people have not forgotten their sacrifice.
The people of Afghanistan need to know that the international community
is clearly aware that their suffering is caused by the Taliban and this
regime’s wasting of the tremendous resources of the nation and people of
Afghanistan. The Taliban have
not provided the people of Afghanistan with basic necessities such as food and
shelter, but have increased their suffering so that more people than ever are
starving, freezing and also dying from easily preventable medical problems. The Taliban callously allow the Afghan people to die.
It is the international community and aid organizations who have given
food and medicine, who have helped build wells and shelters.
The Taliban, in its commitment to conflict, has used the resources of the
Afghan nation for its own selfish and destructive aims.
Mr. Chairman, it is urgent that the
proponents of democracy in Afghanistan receive our support.
It is urgent that increased humanitarian assistance be delivered to stave
off approaching starvation of numerous internally displaced people and refugees.
I encourage the surrounding Central and South Asian nations to open their
borders so that NGOs are able to provide for basic physical needs.
These short term needs for food and shelter must be met.
It is also important, however, that we have a long term perspective and
work with the Afghan people to form an effective strategy for the future, one
which will give the Afghan people hope during the current time of crisis.
The peace of Afghanistan, the region, and the world is at stake.
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from our very distinguished witnesses.