Resolution on Afghanistan
WPI Political Bureau
15 October 2001
The September 11 terrorist atrocity
has turned the question of Afghanistan and Taliban into a pressing international
issue. The USA and UK military attack on Afghanistan under the pretext
of fighting terrorism and capturing Osama bin Laden has made the overthrow
of the Taliban, the ultra-reactionary Islamic group, extremely likely.
More than two decades of civil war between
reactionary, Islamic, criminal, gangster and drug smuggling groups in
Afghanistan - which took control with the complete military, political
and economic support of Western governments led by the USA - has destroyed
any sign of civilization in this country. As a result of this bloody
war, two million have been killed, thousands maimed and millions displaced.
Under the rule of these groups, and
especially the Taliban, the people of Afghanistan have been brutally
suppressed and denied their most basic rights. Women, the primary victims
of these Islamic mafia gangs, have been denied their most basic rights
and been reduced to slave status.
In light of the above, the Worker-communist
Party of Iran (WPI) declares the following:
1. The overthrow of the Taliban and
the liberation of the people of Afghanistan from this mafia-Islamic
nightmare is the demand of the vast majority of the people of Afghanistan,
a step forward and a precondition to achieving a free and human society
in Afghanistan.
2. The USA and UK military attack on
Afghanistan carried out under the pretext of fighting terrorism will
not only not weaken terrorism but rather escalate it. This attack is
not aimed at defending the people of Afghanistan vis-à-vis the
Taliban but it has been placed on their agenda after September 11 for
confronting political Islam and its unchecked terrorism. The USA and
Western governments created the Taliban and Islamic groups, unleashed
them on the people of Afghanistan and prevented their downfall.
3. Any attack against civilians and
the destruction of cities, villages, infrastructures and people's livelihood
in Afghanistan by the USA and coalition forces is condemned.
4. The stance of opposition groups,
which takes a principled and correct approach in opposing USA militarism,
but arrives at maintaining the horrendous status quo in Afghanistan
and abandoning the people of Afghanistan under the yoke of Taliban is
pacifist and effectively turns its back on a human and progressive demand.
5. The UN has complete responsibility
for Afghan refugees. Iran and Pakistan must open their borders to Afghan
refugees. The right of the people of Afghanistan to seek asylum must
be recognised by neighbouring countries and internationally. Humane
conditions must be created for the refugees and their dignity protected.
6. Any attempt to impose reactionary
groups, including ethnic and Islamic alternatives such as the Northern
Alliance and Luya Jergah on the people of Afghanistan through wheeling
and dealings between USA, Western and regional governments is deplorable
and condemned. The people of Afghanistan must have the right to freely
decide their political system.
7. Progressive and freedom-loving people,
organisations and groups must put pressure on the UN and Western governments
to guarantee that any political arrangements after the overthrow of
the Taliban will respect the following basic rights of the people of
Afghanistan:
a) Political freedoms, including freedom
of expression, organisation and thought;
b) Freedom of religion or atheism;
c) Civil and individual rights for all;
d) Equality of men and women;
e) Abolition of existing anti-women laws; and
f) Establishment of a secular, non-religious and non-ethnic state.