Abstract
This paper examines the current Afghan administration's policy regarding the participation of the Taliban in democratic elections. It also assesses the position of the U.S. and the impact of its war on terror on domestic affairs in Afghanistan. The paper attempts to prove that members of the Taliban elite and warlords were allowed to participate -- and even won seats -- in the 2005 elections because the Afghan government has chosen to undertake a policy of reconciliation and appeasement. The paper further shows that this policy is self-motivated, in an attempt by the current leadership to maintain its own control of power at the center.

From the Paper
"The parliamentary and provincial elections held on September 18, 2005 were among the first, organized since the decade of constitutional monarchy in Afghanistan (1963-1973). As a result, 249 members were elected to represent the Afghans at the Wolosi Jirga (the lower house of the parliament). What is astonishing is that warlords, including four former high-ranking officials of Taliban's oust government, comprise at least half of the house's members. International human rights groups have accused most of these men of narcotics' production and trafficking, as well as committing atrocities against the people. Civilians claim to have fallen victim, or witnessed crimes committed by them since as early as the beginning of the Afghans' resistance against the Soviet invasion (Kolhatkar and Ingals 1). Thus the question is: Why has the current administration allowed warlords and Taliban to participate in the recent parliamentary elections?"

Tags:afghan, assistance, dostum, drug, drugs, economy, elections, foreign, human, jirga, karzai, military, nacotics, parliamentary, policy, reconstruction, rights, s, sayyaf, u, wolosi