AFGHANISTAN: 'Women MPs in Afghanistan are Making Themselves Heard'

Date: 
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Source: 
Deccan Herald
Countries: 
Asia
Southern Asia
Afghanistan
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Participation

A repressive and violent rule by the Taliban and Mujahideen that pushed the country backward by decades and treated women like a commodity is now giving way to some norms of decency under a democratic rule. Surprisingly, hundreds of women contested the 2010 elections to Afghan parliament and now, 69 of 249 MPs are women. B S Arun of Deccan Herald, who was recently in Kabul, spoke to two women independent MPs — Habiba Danish (who, at 30, is the youngest MP) and Shukriya Paikan — who through sheer determination made it to parliament not once but twice. Excerpts:

What made you enter politics?

Habiba Danish (speaking in fluent Hindi): I was never interested in politics. I was 17 when I was married off by force during the Taliban regime. Soon, my husband was kidnapped. Taliban and Pakistani forces occupied our place. We escaped to Iran. When Hameed Karzai came to power (in 2002), we returned. Soon I decided to take part in Loya Jirga (a grand assembly) and got the highest number of votes among women candidates and participated in Jirga deliberations. That was when I got interested in politics. I started my work as a people's representative. Then, in 2004 elections, I contested and won from Takhar. I contested again in 2010 and secured the highest vote among women contestants.

Shukriya Paikan: I always wanted to be in politics but for three decades, there were no elections in Afghanistan. When peace returned, I decided to try my luck. I got elected twice from Kundruz. I am working for my people the best way I can. According to our constitution, we MPs have three responsibilities — we have to make law, make government departments work for the people and be a bridge between the people and the government.

HD: But, we are not MPs like in the USA. I went to US recently and met one Senator and she told me that she has a budget of $21 million for her constituency. We don't have such luxury. My areas of priority are rural development, health and education. We are not satisfied with the work we have done or the response of the government. Some regions like the northern areas are very much backward, neglected and crying for help. There is not much money in our government. We depend on international donations. If we want to give positive results, it depends largely upon proposals given by the donors.

How difficult it is being woman MP in Afghanistan? How do men look at you in parliament? Do you want the number of women ministers in Afghanistan to increase?

HD: We some times have our way and some times not. But the experience is not that bad. As for women ministers, president Karzai first took only one woman as minister. We took a delegation and demanded that he increase it to five. Finally he took two more but they are not being given key portfolios. We have 34 provinces, but there is only one woman governor. Women in parliament are better organised and have better management skills than many male MPs. Women are using the opportunity to make their voices heard. The Karzai government should focus more on ensuring equal rights, so that women can lead a dignified life. We will continue to press for that.

SP: Thirty long years of dark age of Mujahideen and Taliban, which were the worse for women, is over.

How is the situation now?

SP: Both Mujahideens and Taliban regimes were backed by Pakistan. Some sort of peace has returned, but Pakistan is still playing with the blood of Afghans — trying to take us back by 30 years. Our security situation is worsening because of Pakistan's interference.

HD: Karzai is supporting Pakistan, I don't know why. His advisers are Pakistani sympathisers. Pakistan wants to dabble in the internal affairs of Afghanistan but our people are not for it, a majority of the MPs are not in favour of it. Islamabad has no role in our future. I studied in Peshawar and I have seen Pakistani intentions from close quarters. Why is Hameed Karzai wooing the Pakistanis to settle our future? It is detrimental to the future of Afghanistan as we try to rebuild our strife-torn country.

The US has said it will start phased withdrawal of its forces from July 2011. What's your reaction?

HD: We don't want the US troops to go now itself as development work here will suffer. But that does not mean we want US to stay for long. Parliament should discuss this and come to a decision.

What do you say about India's role in Afghanistan?

HD&SP: A majority of Afghan people want India to play a major role in our development.

We know what is happening between India and Pakistan. But we also know India has no agenda when it helps Afghanistan, unlike Pakistan. India is a country that has positive ideas and most MPs feel like me. India should involve itself across various sectors to rebuild this country where it enjoys considerable goodwill.