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Kabul is on lock down

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Enayat Enayat | 06:52 UK time, Monday, 19 July 2010

The schools and universities are suspended, Markets are closed, auto workshops are out of work and the city is empty of private vehicles. The citizens are walking through long distances to reach their destinations. All these are because of security measures taken for Kabul International Conference, the first of its kind in Kabul.

On July 20, 2010, the Government of Afghanistan will bring together representatives of more than 70 partner countries, international and regional organizations and financial institutions to deliberate and endorse an Afghan Government-led plan for improved development, governance, and stability. According to the government media, the conference aims to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. It will be opened by President Hamid Karzai, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and co-chaired by the Afghan Foreign Minister Rassoul and UN Special Representative Staffan de Mistura.
The ordinary people are under a wide lock down and cannot go anywhere. My home is a stone's throw away from the main road connecting Kabul international airport with the rest of the city where I saw people of every age this morning walking up and down along the road. Only security forces and foreign delegations' caravans can be seen while coming out from the airport. I talked to some of the people to know their opinion about the conference.
Mr Ataaullah a shopkeeper told me that, this conference will be the same in results as other conferences that held in London and Paris which has not any positive impact on the life of civilians and the money will go again to a few pockets and will not do much for people.
My daughter is on the edge of death, I want to take her to the hospital but because of the lock down there is no any car or taxi. Ms. Fatima, teacher of a primary school told me very quickly while she was walking rapidly towards the hospital if she can find a doctor; she just angrily condemned the conference.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Very inconvenience for everyone in Kabul. My parents flight to Dubai did nit even existed apparently been told by the Kabul police, on ever roads blocks leading to Kabul airport that they were trying to get to airport. Shame on people who create treats to the security of Afghanistan as all Afghans suffer from it.

  • Comment number 2.

    Hi Enayat , I 'm realy wondering how officials don't think about people urgent cases ! I 'm really sorry to hear about that and thank you to informing us about this situation . When such conferences take place in Tehran they just give public holiday . I don't want to be pesimestic but I agree with your shopkeeper . I think every year lots of money spend over such so called conferenceslots . I 'm wondering what 's the reall effect of those confrerences except spending lots of money !
    hope to impproving and bye
    Pary from Iran

  • Comment number 3.

    Hi Enayat, I think you've written a professional report! Thanks for your news!

    Well, from your article, I learned that the Kabul International Conference is a very large event in the city. It also brings much inconvenience to the local people. The residents hate this conference, and believe it gives no good to their life.

    Sorry for those people who are being so much troubled because of the conference. But, could I inquire some questions? I know little about your country and its current situation. though I read news everyday. Do the people(I mean the common people) in your country is leading an even unhappier life after the Afghanistan War in 2001? I accuse the war which has destroyed homes and lives, however it did happened and now, under a new government, is people's life (or your surroudings) having improvment?or not having improvment? Thirdly, is the new government really elected by the Afghan people? Do they trust their government?

    Thanks for your answering if you do not think the questions above are impolite. I wish the Afghanistan people live peacefully and happily.

    Last thing, I find that lots of people condemn "International Conferences" attended by heads of countries and world organizations. They believe these so called "International Conferences" do no good to the world and the world's people. Yes, I also think so. I feel really disappointed at the Copenhargen Climate Conference.

    Best wishes!

  • Comment number 4.

    Dear Unknown,

    People in the beginning of the 2001 war were happy, because the international community had promised them with showing green lights, but now instead of green lights all around is full of red lights they invested too much on war not on civil development and now the country is facing direct thread of second take over by Taliban. Improvement in common people lives can be slightly seen, but compare to the vast donation of the world seems nothing. the new government is elected by people after it promised the public by doing and providing all kind of live facilities, but the Government failed in fulfilling its promises and this is why people are no longer on trust. i am surprise while the world leader and international advisor to the government of Afghanistan advise on working from the top not from the bottom level of the local communities. Hope I answered somehow to your questions.

    Regards

    Enayat Safi

  • Comment number 5.

    It is difficult to blame who are responsible for such inconvenience, however, I can argue that both Afghan's government and people have responsibility for social unrest and poverty in Afghan. While the government has shown a poor governance and high corruption record, most of Afghans including tribal groups and militants is trying to take control the country under Islamic rules. Therefore, unless resolved ethnic conflicts and corruption, peace and order in Afghan have never been achieved.

  • Comment number 6.

    Hello,

    These international conferences, which take place everywhere, always attract so much attention from public and media. I think security measures that were taken by local orginizers in your country are fair and appropriate. In the coutry where a chance of the terrorists' attacks is so high it makes sence to do so.
    Talking about effectivness of these international conferences, I agree that usually we see no special chages in a field that the conference was held on. I think we see no changes just because officials don't keep their promisses, and not because making the conferences is a bad idea.

    ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½_fan

  • Comment number 7.

    Hello, Enayat,
    I hope your daughter is recovered. I think these international conferences are not a bad idea, but they are not successful for ordinary people (despite they attract all the media attention) because the authorities attending the summit do not fulfill the expectations they have created before de meetings. After the meetings we don´t perceive positive changes. Bye and lucky for you and your family.

  • Comment number 8.

    Dear beatriz,

    Thanks for your comment. but she was not my daughter, she was the daughter of one lady whom i met her on the road walking to the hospital.

    Regards

    Enayat

  • Comment number 9.

    Hi Enayat! Thanks very much for your replies. Your answer do explains some of my doubts about the Afghanistan War. Thanks a lot!

    You mentioned a problem of ineffectual government. this problem now your country people faces also exists in other countries or places in the world. I'm afraid it wouldn't be solved within years.

    Sincere wish to Afghanistan people!

    Best wishes!

  • Comment number 10.

    Hi Enayat!!

    Your post seems like a professional report, congratulations!!

    This conferences are really very incovenient for the local population, here in Brazil is the same. They forget that the city can't stop just for them and this things like you said happens with us.

    So, please, tell us about the results of this conference! I hope that they decided something positive for the afghanistan people, because you deserve the best!

    I really wish the best to all of you

    Lorena

  • Comment number 11.

    Hi Enayat!
    your Article is just like CNN New Report!it's really brief and attractive. just like Kim said, you are good at narrating events.
    So good luck.
    Mike

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