REBUILDING AFGHANISTAN

SYED ISHAQ GAILANI
Head of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan and one of the four groups, which signed the Bonn agreement in December
"Afghanistan has its own democratic systems. If it can re-establish these systems, democracy will prevail. The selection of people and systems by Loya Jirga is an important step forward towards democracy. However, the West cannot impose democracy in Afghanistan. All Afghans want democracy, but in accordance with their own traditions, religion and history.'

KALIM BAHADUR
A keen observer of Afghanistan and its traditional systems
"The rulers of Afghanistan have always used Loya Jirga in the past to gain legitimacy. The Loya Jirga is rather controversial today. A number of factors undermine its credibility: the question of representation, the role of the king and the present domination of Northern Alliance. The success of the Loya Jirga and the possibility of a new constitution and the future set up in Afghanistan appear almost impossible. Once the US-led forces withdraw, the country is likely to slip into war-lordism and another round of civil war.'

SREEDHAR
Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
"Afghanistan needs to go back to its pre-1973 model of governance for rebuilding and reconstruction. The Bonn model of governance planned after Loya Jirga is not feasible in the immediate future. The institution building, economic reconstruction and help from friendly countries must take place simultaneously. Incidentally, the type of and the quantum of aid being talked by the European Union, United Nations and World Bank cannot be absorbed by an economy like that of Afghanistan at this juncture.'

KAMAL RIJAL
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu
"A system already exists. We just need to put a mechanism in place. Water management is crucial in the development agenda. Before any programmes are implemented, the beneficiary must be identified. Grassroots institutions must be made the hub of all development in future. Experiences in last 10 years show that the country managed its micro-affairs through such institu tions. The World Bank wants a centralised system, which is hardly sensitive to the local socio-economic structure. If such policies are adopted, then Afghanistan's future doesn't look so bright.'

FAROUQ AHMED
Pakistan-based agriculturalist
"The traditional irrigation system has to be revived immediately. As people have deserted their land, these systems are in a dilapidated state. Communities ran these systems. And only the return of these people can revive these systems.'