Afghanistan’s political crises over the past four decades stem from a number of recurring factors, such as ethnic division, movement conflicts, the thirst for power, and so-called parties. Recent reports indicate that a number of former Afghan politicians and officials, mostly remnants of previous failed governments, have announced another political party under the name “National Justice.” This party was announced in the hall of a hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, which in itself shows that this movement did not arise from the people, has no national roots, and was not created based on the country’s real needs.
If we look at the structure, leadership, and list of participants of the Justice Party, it is another ethnic grouping, not a national movement. The party leader, deputies, and participants were all selected from among the Turkmen and Uzbeks of Afghanistan, thereby founding the anti-justice movement called “Justice” by the ethnic justice seekers. While Afghanistan has suffered greatly from ethnic divisions, prejudice, and political monopolies, the announcement of such a party could be seen as another failed, weak, and illegitimate attempt.
Most of the founders of this party are figures who also left the scene with the fall of the collapsed republic. Former cabinet ministers, former senators, ambassadors, and remaining members of the Walasi Jirga are now talking about justice again. The question itself is: if they truly sought justice, why didn’t they ensure this justice through their positions at that time? If they truly oppose ignorance, why didn’t they speak out against the corruption, movement bias, and party interference within the education system during their reigns? All these signs indicate that this party was also formed to protect the personal interests of a limited number of individuals, maintain their status, and implement foreign projects, not for the good of the nation.
The movement under the banner of justice has represented a specific ethnic color from the first day. Such movements, which arise from a specific ethnic group, not only fail to guarantee national unity but also widen the gaps between ethnic groups. Afghans have suffered from these separatist movements; everyone comes to the stage in the name of their own ethnic group, claiming to represent themselves, but they are silent in the face of the majority’s suffering. Justice is meaningful when all ethnic groups, all social classes, and the entire nation as a whole see themselves in it, not when it is a private matter and demand of a single region or ethnic group.
The Afghan people can no longer be sacrificed to the manifestos of parties created and campaign-driven within the framework of foreign intelligence projects. The people are tired of war, migration, poverty, injustices, and political wheeling and dealing. Talk of justice, economy, brotherhood, and knowledge is only valuable when these words are combined with action, sacrifice, and national intent. Well, it’s still the same old faces, the same old slogans, and the same dilapidated old structures. Only the name has changed. Everything else is the same as before.
Afghanistan needs a political renewal that is free from any ethnic, linguistic, organizational, and sectarian bias. This nation, according to Islamic ideology, theory, conscience, and principles, only needs a strong central government, not new spectacles of organizational remnants. The Justice Party must learn that justice comes from transparency, meritocracy, and national inclusion, not from tribalism, opportunism, and organizational titles. The successive collapse of similar parties and groups formed over the past nearly four years could be clear evidence of this.
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