Writer: Abdulsalam Farzam
The political reality of Afghanistan has changed several times over the past two decades, but the debate over legitimacy has always remained one of the hottest topics among political groups and international relations. Groups calling themselves the “Resistance” or the “Freedom Fronts” have repeated accusations of illegitimacy and lack of popular support against the Afghan government. On the other hand, the Afghan government is busy expanding its diplomatic, regional, and international relations day by day. The Kunar incident and the statements made by these groups about it once again highlighted the contradiction between who claims legitimacy and who actually achieves it.
Every incident by the Resistance and Freedom Front is used as a propaganda tool to label the Afghan government as illegitimate. The biggest problem within their ranks is that no country has yet recognized them as a legitimate opposition. Their meetings are repeatedly postponed, attendance is dwindling, and their voice on the world stage is slowly fading away. Recently, many of their meetings have been canceled or have not been covered at all due to low attendance, disagreements, and lack of support.
The international community, which once attempted to assess alternatives for Afghanistan, now appears conspicuously indifferent to these groups, and world countries are taking steps toward expanding relations with the Afghan government rather than officially recognizing its opponents.
The statements from these groups regarding the Kunar incident were presented as if the people were behind them. The expressions of praise from some other opponents in that same incident were a kind of reaction against their propaganda, as people showed that the standard for evaluating events is not solely from the perspective of one group, but requires broad judgment.
In Kunar, despite their statements, many people expressed support for the government’s actions regarding the incident, and some other opponents indirectly endorsed the government’s actions. This was a kind of opposing reaction to the propaganda stance of the fronts of evil and corruption.
Despite all the challenges, the Afghan government has taken practical steps toward expanding diplomatic relations in recent years. Russia’s special envoy noted that China and Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have improved and are considered a “green light” in the region. These statements indicate that the Afghan government’s legitimacy on the world stage is expanding day by day, and the opposition is slowly being pushed out of the world’s sight.
The Afghan government has taken practical steps toward expanding relations in the region and the world, and Russia, China, Iran, India, and Pakistan have also noted the elevation of diplomatic ties, which is a sign of international recognition. These developments show that the world is gradually accepting the current government of Afghanistan as legitimate and its officials as representatives; the expansion of such diplomatic relations is a strong response to the propaganda of the opposition.
Legitimacy is not achieved thru slogans alone but is demonstrated thru action, stability, and meeting the needs of the people. The opposition calls themselves the representative of the people in speeches and statements, but they have neither gained broad public support nor secured international participation. In contrast, the government has gradually presented itself as the legitimate representative thru diplomatic relations, regional cooperation, and domestic order.
Legitimacy is not just a legal and international debate but also has political, social, and cultural dimensions. The legitimacy of the current Afghan government is evident in its ability to maintain domestic order, security, and meet the needs of the people. The opposition is not only failing in these areas but also lacks a practical alternative to offer, and their position is solely based on criticism, while their solutions are vague and unrealistic.
The opposition claims legitimacy thru slogans, but the Afghan government gains this legitimacy thru action. Improving people’s lives, strengthening security, and expanding international relations are the practical outcomes that prove the Afghan government’s legitimacy. The slogans of the opposition can not bring about any change in the daily lives of the people, and for this reason, the balance of legitimacy is tipping more and more in favor of the Afghan government.
From all the evidence, it appears the opposition is claiming legitimacy, but they have no popular support, no international support, and no alternative to offer. In contrast, the Afghan government is gaining legitimacy on the ground thru increased diplomatic relations, domestic order, and recognition from international countries. Therefore, the world is ignoring the opposition and witnessing the rise of the Afghan government.
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