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Afghans wary of US, but for many better the devil you know

23 Jun 2011 10:05

Source: reuters // Reuters

By Almad Jawad

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, June 23 (Reuters) - Suspicion of the United States runs deep in Afghanistan and ties with may be strained, but many Afghans are wary of President Barack Obama's phased withdrawal of U.S. troops, saying they might be better off with the devil they know.

In the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, relatively stable compared with the insurgent-ridden south and east, many Afghans said the withdrawal of troops could lead to more Taliban violence with the Afghan army and police unable to keep order.

The U.S. pull-back will coincide with the first phase of a gradual handover of security control to the Afghan police and army, who are due to take responsibility for all of Afghanistan by the end of 2014. But critics warn that may be too soon.

"We are concerned about foreign countries' plans to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and leave us to our own fate," said Mohammad Reza, a Mazar-i-Sharif shopkeeper.

"We are scared of more violence and fighting once they leave and our lives and little business will be in ruin. I think Afghan forces are not able to take care of the Taliban alone, they definitely want foreign support," he said.

Afghans are wary of international powers abandoning their country ever since a 1989 victory -- supported by arms from the United States - over the Soviets led to civil war and rise of the Taliban as Washington largely ignored Afghanistan's plight.

U.S. forces are deeply unpopular with many Afghans for the deaths of civilians in mistaken bombing attacks and for night-time raids, something that has strained ties between President Hamid Karzai and Washington.

"There is not much wrong with the foreigners if they don't kill civilians and harass people and give us peace and security," said Dr. Humayoun Sakhizada in Mazar-i-Sharif.

"The Americans and their allies have been here for some 10 years. Our living conditions have changed a little but there are more bombs and incidents."

"If the bombs and suicide attacks and killings are going to stop after the foreigners leave then yes -- please leave," he said. "But if things become worse and people experience mass killings, then it is not the right time to abandon us."

TO STAY OR GO?

Many Afghans say their own army and police -- widely seen as corrupt and inept -- are worse than U.S. troops.

"The Americans and British with sophisticated weapons and planes couldn't defeat the Taliban, how can the Afghan army or police?" said Nooruddin, a farmer in Ahmad Shahee village near Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan where much of the war had been centred.

"We are scared that once the foreigners leave, Afghan forces, especially police, will treat us worse, and will loot our homes," Nooruddin said.

U.S. officials recognised this ambivalent feeling.

"The Afghans want their sovereignty back. In their hearts they do want their sovereignty. They want us to leave," said one senior U.S. official, who asked to remain anonymous.

"In their head they know the objective realities on the ground. Still, at this point, they don't want us to leave."

But it is not a nationwide sentiment. It is easy to find vocal opposition to U.S. troops, and for these Afghans, Obama's troop withdrawal is not quick enough, especially in the south and east.

"The foreigners have bombed innocent people's houses, killed women and children, people will be happy if they, the government and Taliban leave us alone," said Noor Agha from Bolan village near Lashkar Gah.

He said he lost two of his children during a firefight between foreign troops and insurgents last month.

"My children died because of the foreigners, we didn't have many problems before Americans came to Afghanistan," he said.

"I don't know what transition means but no Afghan or foreign forces can make things better," he said. (Additional reporting by Abdul Malek in Helmand and Alistair Scrutton in Kabul. Writing by Alistair Scrutton; Editing by Robert Birsel)