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Afghanistan: Victory for the Mujahideen?
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10574 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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| Issue
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2 / 1986 |
1,941 Words |
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Henry Kriegel
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In Washington, key members in the Senate and Congress with the support and Reagan Administration officials, are posing themselves for more legislative victories concerning humanitarian aid as Congress reconvenes. In Afghanistan the Mujahideen hold their own against the world's largest superpower, awaiting for the effective aid needed for their victory.
Last year, $25 million in humanitarian aid was approved in two separate Congressional bills for Afghan refuges in Pakistan. Reagan approved a measure which will allow U.S. Air Force aircraft to deliver humanitarian aid consisting of donated medical supplies, clothing, and food from thousands of good-hearted Americans to Pakistan. The delivery of these items to the Afghans will provide a moral uplift and is symbolic of the increased support the issue has in American.
Very seldom in the six years of war has Afghanistan hit the press. Both The New York Time and The Washington Post recently ran editorials on Soviet atrocities. Asia watch, a branch of Helsinki Watch issued their updated report on human rights violations. Felix Ermacora introduced his report on human rights violations to the UN where by a vote of 75 to 23, the world body registered its "profound concern."
Soviet Propaganda
Afghanistan was a widely discussed issue by Soviet diplomats at Geneva who, while Reagan and Gorbachev conferred, tired to convince the international press of their desire for a negotiated settlement. The welling of international public opinion denouncing the Soviet invasion has forced Kremlin propagandists to account for themselves. Whereas news of the war was once shunned from Soviet citizens, now solders are bestowed honors and TV reports show on-sight coverage of 'the war to defined the Soviet fatherland."
American private volunteer organizations like the International Medical Corps (IMC) are establishing themselves in Pakistan with President Zia's blessing to provide paramedic training to Afghans. With U.S. government support, IMC will train Afghans in emergency medicine to treat war-related injuries and common diseases. It is an investment in the Afghan people. Afghans will be taught how to help themselves and in each other.
In addition, Congress appropriated one-half million in aid for the training of Afghans in media skills. The USIA will distribute the funds shortly to one or more of several qualified organizations which have applied. This should help expand coverage of the war. Unfortunately, USIA funded programs cannot be aired in America, only abroad. However, coverage in Europe and elsewhere is a definite step in the right direction.
While the freedom fighters have shown remarkable resilience, the communist forces are plagued with morale problems, drug abuse, and defections. According to Aaron Einfrank in a special report to The Washington Times, fighting between solders from the Soviet Central Asian republic of Tajikis and the Russians is more common. After one Tajik was executed in November, fighting broke out between the Tajkis on one side and the Russian and non-Asian troops on the other. After a full day of battle, more than 80 Russians were reported killed. The many Russians who were wounded were flown to the Soviet Union for treatment.
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