Ghani shares Afghani views in Council Series

Dr. Ashraf Ghani, an Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins as well as a national of Afghanistan, spoke on Wednesday in the first meeting of the Hopkins Community Council Series.

He discussed his reaction to the acts of terrorism on Sept. 11 in addition to sharing his first-hand experience on life in Afghanistan. Wednesday's forum was entitled "Perspectives on Afghanistan and Pakistan: Islamic Networks, Social Exclusions and State Building."

Dr. Ghani acknowledged many of the serious issues in Afghanistan, but also indicated that some are exaggerated in their portrayal. "We [Afghanis] are indeed starving, but we are not simple-minded." He noted that the Afghani people stood up to the Soviet army.

The former Soviet Union has had a serious impact on the country. The Soviet army invaded Afghanistan during 1979-1989, which resulted in brutal attacks on the Afghani people, leaving one million dead, five million exiled and six million internally displaced.

After the fall of the Soviet-sponsored regime in Afghanistan as a result of the lack of funding, the country was unable to sustain itself. Schools closed, political parties struggled with each other for power, there were mass killings and Afghanistan became one of the world's leading illegal drug producers. Dr. Ghani noted that there are hundreds of schools that exist on paper but do not really exist at all.

He cited that there certainly is a feeling of defensiveness in the Middle East as a result of the French Colonization of Algeria, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan as well as British colonization.

This is not going to be easy to overcome. "The heart of the matter lies in the U.S. and the E.U. making allies in repressive reigns," said Dr. Ghani.

In terms of the Muslim people, he feels that they are incorrectly portrayed. The stereotype of Islam is one of extremism and violence, which is reflective of an Islamic extremist group of forty years ago and not indicative of Muslims today.

Dr. Ghani also shared his perspective on the Sept. 11 attacks. "On Sept. 11, I was sitting two blocks away from the White House when the news came," he said.

He expressed his concern with the current state of the world. "Where we are is in an extremely dangerous situation." He offered a few concrete solutions, but at the same time warned that there is no easy solution. "Yes, Osama has to be eliminated and the Taliban has to be destroyed, but who will take their place?"

He outlined a plan for maintaining peace. First of all, we should not confine the problem to Afghanistan; the rest of the world should be engaged as well.

Second, ask for an agenda of reconstruction and an accountable government. Thirdly, go to Afghanistan. "We have a wonderful tradition of hospitality. Hopefully it can be renewed," said Dr. Ghani.

Since both charity and relief aid to the people of Afghanistan have been so inconstant, he also suggested a trust fund be created for Afghanistan and there be a Board of Trustees that would be composed of trusted relief organizations as an optimal way to assure that the people truly benefit.

Dr. Ghani blames the Taliban for Afghanistan's poor treatment of women.

At the end of the 19th century, he said that women were allowed rights in Islam, but when the Taliban came to power, these rights were taken away. "Unless the question of women is addressed, there will not be peace."

This lecture series will continue on a regular basis. The next one will take place on Nov. 11. The speaker has not yet been announced.