DEATH OF A DREADED PREACHER.

 

By K P PASWAN.

 It may sound strange, Afghanistan was going to have its own supreme leader, with extra constitutional authority. The man who was set to become supreme leader in Afghanistan was known as Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, with authority like issuing directions to the president or PM, how to run the Government, besides medieval version of teaching holy scriptures.

But there is breaking news. Akhundzada was killed in Pakistan in a suicide attack long ago, most probably before the complete takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Akhundzada was not a learned preacher. He was a ruthless killers,  vehemently opposed to women, receiving western education and was in favor of strict dress code for women. Akhundzada never traveled abroad and was happy to know that he would be new supreme religious leader of an impoverished Afghanistan. We do not have much knowledge about Akhundzada. It appears he was the product of Afghan Madrassa which imparts Talib (Education) as taught in medieval Central Asia, but circumstances forced him to seek education in a madrasa in Pakistan, where along with extreme form of religion, modern science and literature are also taught. Later on, he joined the rank of Taliban and fought side by side with one eyed Cleric Mullah Umar killing many unfaithful including US soldiers.

Generally, it is presumed that when Mullah Umar Bradar was captured by Pakistan in 2010, Akhundzada became the guiding spirit of Taliban and when Mullah Bradar was released at the behest of Pentagon, then Akhundzada lost much of his voice and the American negotiated successfully with Talibans, led by Mullah Bradar. So Akhundzada had no alternative but to settle in Kandahar, which was also his birth place.

Let us examine the position of new Supreme Leader of Afghanistan. It is difficult to say whether Afghanistan is the poorest or one of the poorest countries of this planet. Most probably, Republic of HAITI in Latin America is the poorest country, but being a Christian country, Haiti is receiving liberal donations from every corner of the world. Haiti does not preach religious intolerance. The corruptions have been institutionalized in Haiti. But Afghan’s economy is in doldrums. Its main source of revenue is drug trafficking, then there is Trilogy, rich China, poor Pakistan and an opportunist Russia playing their games with Afghan politics with sinister design. China is pumping money into the empty coffer of Afghanistan, on the conditions that Taliban would not support Uighur, who are deadlier than Taliban.

 Than we have Russia, which is trying its best to gain the lost ground. Erstwhile Soviet Union is responsible for the sordid affairs, prevailing in Afghanistan. By invading Afghanistan in the decade of 1980s, serious attempts were made to convert Afghanistan into a satellite states with communist ideology, like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and a host of another small Muslims majority state. Soviet Union’s actions forced US to join the bandwagon, opposed to communist philosophy. Al Qaida was strengthened  to fight the communists and the Soviet Union had made a hasty retreat. In fact, Russian invasion of Afghanistan was a turning point in the history of entire subcontinent. It prepared the ground for sectarian conflicts in the Middle East and made the complex diplomacy of central Asia more complicated. Mass exodus of Refugees coupled with hunger and extreme poverty, led to the birth of terror organizations, with only one aim, destroy the infidels in particular and US in general. After disappearance of Communism from the face of earth, US’s wisdom to prolong its stay in Afghanistan is not appreciated, especially when they were dealing with illiterate fanatics, being aided by literate lunatics of Central Asia

CONSPIRACY. Assassination of Akhundzada in Pakistan raises an important question, who was interested in eliminating him? Pakistan is controlling economic and political segments of Afghanistan. Pakistan is itself a theocratic state, but this country follows democratic principles There is an elected parliament and an independent judiciary in Pakistan. Western system of jurisprudence is in operation side by side with Sharia, there is no strict code of dress for girls, who are seen working in almost all the government department. Women journalists, teachers and doctors enjoy greater freedom and the Clerics’ call for strict enforcement of religious laws is hated by modern educated Pakistan. Being a theocratic state, minorities face danger from the fanatics, forced conversion is a common feature, but it is doubtful if the illegal activities of the Clerics are encouraged and supported by government.

 Akhundzada did not enjoy much support in Pakistan. Akhundzada religious philosophy was bound to create ripple among the liberal thinkers of Pakistan. With the help of China, Pakistan is trying to boost its fragile economy. It was the liberal thinking with greater participation of women, that attracted MNCs and big cities of Pakistan are witnessing skyscrapers being erected by various big companies. The concept of a Supreme leader is based upon the similar positions enjoyed by Ayatollahs Ali Khamenei in Iran. But here, we find differences, which must be debated and addressed. Iran is one of the richest countries of the world and has a democratically elected president, but ultimate political authority rests with the Supreme Religious leader, who himself is democratically elected by a group of Ayatollahs, numbering 80 to 100.They are lunatics and are loathed by educated Iranians. 

Recently there was violent physical attacks and brawl between two groups for sharing power, but Akhundzada interference was not seen. Haqqani brothers attacked Mullah Brodar physically and for a while it was mourned that he was killed. But Mullah Brodar appeared in Kandahar and declared that he was alive, but with reduced or no authority. Afghan Religious leader is supposed to reside in Kandahar, which is stronghold of Taliban. Talibans are divided into two groups. Pro Pakistani group having control over Kabul is headed by Haqqani Brothers, who carry rewards on their heads. Then we have Kandahar group, headed by mullahs Yaquab Omari, who are opposed to Pakistan. It was natural that being a Taliban of Kandahar origin, Akhundzada was not going to support Pakistan’s interference in Afghan politics and therefore invited the wrath of Pakistan. Real authority in Afghanistan  rests with Pakistan and it appears that neither Taliban nor US is in a position to influence Imran Khan, the P.M of Pakistan.

We face another dilemma. Haqqani brothers carry heavy rewards on their heads, as declared by US. Haqqani brothers are known for ruthless killings and in the past carried out several terrorists attack against US, but the same terrorists are ruling Afghanistan under the very nose of US.

 Who was going to foot the bills of new Supreme leader. Americans military actions in Afghanistan was not without reasons. For the last twenty years Americans poured dollars with one hand and took away the same wealth from another hand. Contracts were awarded only to US based constructions companies. Other countries of EU and Britain followed the policy of US. So, despite of admirable infrastructures created by Americans, economic prosperity eluded Afghanistan. Central bank of Afghanistan is completely at the mercy of foreigners, belonging to greedy autocrats of central Asia. Under such circumstances, supreme religious leader was not going to enjoy a luxurious life and spewing venom against the unbelievers. Ayatollahs Ali Khamenei is being protected by more than one thousand elite Republican Guard of Iran, but Akhundzada was not going to enjoy such type of expensive network of  protection.

 NEW POLITICAL AUTHORITY. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar who was supposed to lead the govt is now a deputy prime minister.  Talibans will have to find ways and means to avert the collapse of an economy, grappling with drought and pandemic. Nearly 250000 Afghans lost their lives before tumultuous pull out of Americans. New government may find solutions of debarring women from getting jobs and education, but educated Talibans may need the help of economists to avert impending economic doom. In the name of humanitarian disaster, Taliban may receive international aid, both in the form of kind and cash, which are likely to benefit the corrupt Talibans and its rival Jihadists groups, including local offshoot of ISIS and Al-Qaida, Formation of a  Govt in a poor Afghanistan does not need  any Supreme Religious leader.

 Akhundzada may be compared with Baghdadi, the self-appointed Caliphate who was also a failed preacher and had dream of becoming the religious head of entire Islamic world. Baghdadi used to pay protection money to Al Qaida, which has reappeared in Afghanistan, but this time situation is different. Than we have a new brigade of terrorists in a sleepy town known as Khorasan. The leader of Al Qaida came to Kabul in a brand-new foreign car and received lukewarm welcome. Pakistan is already fed up with internal terrorism and will certainly not in a position to invite the left over Al Qaida to create ground of religious based terrorism. Pakistan wants to fight India and it also like to crush terrorism if it has to boost its economy.

Question before Taliban is whether they want more employment, manufacturing activities, better health infrastructures or preachers, whose teachings are detrimental to social and economic harmony. Gangs of religious zealots like Bokoharam in Africa is playing havoc not only in Nigeria but in  all the surrounding countries.  Kidnapping of a large number of innocent schools going children for ransom is a flourishing business. It is doubtful if any religion permits such type of activities. 

Purchasing power of common Afghans is unstable and the terrorists cannot resort to kidnapping and extortion as kidnapped person’s family has no money to pay and get the kidnapped men or women released. A flawed democracy is opposed to theocracy. Democracy is not the panacea of all social, economic and political evils. Both democracy and theocracy have their own limitation. Scholars say that an open democracy is necessary for robust economic growth, but in the case of China, the concept of open democracy has proved wrong. China’s outstanding economic has ended the monopoly of US and economically advanced countries of the entire world.

Talibans must have learned that by preaching extreme form of religion, they cannot remove poverty. Small Muslims kingdoms in the middle east are rich in oil and natural gases, but not a single country has democratic institutions, still these small countries are prosperous and people do not face starvation. This is simply because they have kept theocracy under control, and we do not find hate preachers. History tells us that extreme form of religion can hurt a society. That is what is happening in Afghanistan. From ancient times, irresponsible kings and autocrats have created emotional nationalism based on religion. But this type of nationalism has failed to unite the people. Afghans reflected extreme form of unity while fighting the British, but the same kind of unity was also seen among warring factions, while fighting the Pak army in Waziristan.

NEW SLOGAN.

Talibans celebrated their victory by raising slogan, God is false, there is only Allah. Prophet is the messenger of Allah. There is nothing wrong in raising such type of slogan. Educated persons, irrespective of their religion, will hardly notice it. But this slogan must not prevent the administration to take measures to protect the rights of minority, who may address their, creator by different names.

 As a supreme religious leader, Akhundzada, was supposed to unite the people to fight against hunger and poverty. But hunger and poverty cannot be removed without uprooting corruption. Pakistan being a self-proclaimed theocratic state and is also encouraging democratic institutions. Flabbergasted conservatives in Pakistan, tried every possible method to browbeat the liberals but they failed to gain sufficient political ground and so it is natural that Pakistan would support unrest in J&K and Afghanistan to keep the conservatives in good humour.

FINAL THOUGHT. Bin Laden, Baghdadi and Akhundzada were rich, but they wanted to become God, they had to pay the price as their God was an unproven entity.