KABUL, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- The so-called civilization clash or conflict could have been a factor in prolonging the decade-long war on terror in post-Taliban country, Afghan experts said in an interview recently with Xinhua, ahead of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"I think, in general, when the cold war came to an end and with the start of the 1990s, the global politics has moved to an approach of clash and conflict of civilization and that the Huntington theory could be a start to mark that conflict between civilizations," Abdul Qaum Sejade, a political analyst and member of Afghan Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Parliament, maintained.
"The policy of West on the talk on Islam and reflection of Islam as a religion of terrific and grime could be one part of civilization conflict that Huntington said in his theory. However, the western politicians had tried their best for reservation of this fact and tried to stop this pose," Sejade believed.
The Clash of Civilizations is a theory, proposed by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, that people's cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world.
The War in Afghanistan began on Oct. 7, 2001, under the U.S.- led coalition which included the U.K., several other countries and the then Afghan United Front or Northern Alliance, dubbed " Operation Enduring Freedom" with the stated goal of dismantling the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorist organization based in Afghanistan. The United States also said that it would remove the Taliban regime from power and create a viable democratic government.
However, after 10 years it seems that the war on terror has been challenged after Taliban made a bloody comeback just a couple of years after their regime was toppled.
"As you know, the war on terror begun nearly a decade ago and the 9/11 attack followed the presence of international community, the West and United States in Afghanistan. On that time also many western politicians had talked about a clash between civilizations. "
He mentioned that some western politicians once used the term of Christians' Medieval War to describe the attacks on U.S. interests and the response of the United States.
"We witnessed that the Westerners have often given the same definition for fundamentalism and terrorism over the past decade of war in Afghanistan. And that introduces the whole Islam as a religion of extremism. These examples could demonstrate that there has been a clash or conflict between western and Islam civilizations that could cause more problems in future," he elaborated.
Meanwhile, Erphanullah Erphan, member of Mashrano Jirga or Upper House of Afghan parliament, told Xinhua, "If we have a glance for U.S. military activities here. The behavior of the U.S. and coalition forces over the past decade of war in Afghanistan could reflect that there has been a civilization conflict. For example, the U.S. and coalition forces did not pay attention to Afghans' religious, culture and thoughts, all demonstrate that there was civilization conflict in this part of the world. And that our doubt gets weight that there has been a conflict between Western and Islam civilizations, have been taking place now like never before."
Erphan called on Americans and Afghan government to pay efforts to stop misunderstanding between the two civilizations.
"If they did not bring changes in such actions, doubts about civilization collide would get weight day by day. I hope they should recognize this sensitivity and sensibility. If no change, I think the U.S. and coalition will face the same fate which British and Soviet Union have seen here in past decades," Erphan said.
However, Erphan is unsure about U.S. success in the war on terror.
"Finally, to comment on relation between Afghanistan and other countries, I want to say any relation which goes against the base of our religion, gracious culture and national identity would not be accepted by our people and further cause fraction between civilizations," he asserted.
"I think, in general, when the cold war came to an end and with the start of the 1990s, the global politics has moved to an approach of clash and conflict of civilization and that the Huntington theory could be a start to mark that conflict between civilizations," Abdul Qaum Sejade, a political analyst and member of Afghan Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Parliament, maintained.
"The policy of West on the talk on Islam and reflection of Islam as a religion of terrific and grime could be one part of civilization conflict that Huntington said in his theory. However, the western politicians had tried their best for reservation of this fact and tried to stop this pose," Sejade believed.
The Clash of Civilizations is a theory, proposed by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, that people's cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world.
The War in Afghanistan began on Oct. 7, 2001, under the U.S.- led coalition which included the U.K., several other countries and the then Afghan United Front or Northern Alliance, dubbed " Operation Enduring Freedom" with the stated goal of dismantling the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorist organization based in Afghanistan. The United States also said that it would remove the Taliban regime from power and create a viable democratic government.
However, after 10 years it seems that the war on terror has been challenged after Taliban made a bloody comeback just a couple of years after their regime was toppled.
"As you know, the war on terror begun nearly a decade ago and the 9/11 attack followed the presence of international community, the West and United States in Afghanistan. On that time also many western politicians had talked about a clash between civilizations. "
He mentioned that some western politicians once used the term of Christians' Medieval War to describe the attacks on U.S. interests and the response of the United States.
"We witnessed that the Westerners have often given the same definition for fundamentalism and terrorism over the past decade of war in Afghanistan. And that introduces the whole Islam as a religion of extremism. These examples could demonstrate that there has been a clash or conflict between western and Islam civilizations that could cause more problems in future," he elaborated.
Meanwhile, Erphanullah Erphan, member of Mashrano Jirga or Upper House of Afghan parliament, told Xinhua, "If we have a glance for U.S. military activities here. The behavior of the U.S. and coalition forces over the past decade of war in Afghanistan could reflect that there has been a civilization conflict. For example, the U.S. and coalition forces did not pay attention to Afghans' religious, culture and thoughts, all demonstrate that there was civilization conflict in this part of the world. And that our doubt gets weight that there has been a conflict between Western and Islam civilizations, have been taking place now like never before."
Erphan called on Americans and Afghan government to pay efforts to stop misunderstanding between the two civilizations.
"If they did not bring changes in such actions, doubts about civilization collide would get weight day by day. I hope they should recognize this sensitivity and sensibility. If no change, I think the U.S. and coalition will face the same fate which British and Soviet Union have seen here in past decades," Erphan said.
However, Erphan is unsure about U.S. success in the war on terror.
"Finally, to comment on relation between Afghanistan and other countries, I want to say any relation which goes against the base of our religion, gracious culture and national identity would not be accepted by our people and further cause fraction between civilizations," he asserted.
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