Findings of a new survey conducted by BBC Persian and Pashto show that 70 percent of Afghan people feel optimistic about the future. BBC has conducted interviews with 1317 people in 13 provinces of Afghanistan. The questions mainly deal with the capability and motivation of Afghan national security forces to fight terrorists and provide security for Afghan people after 2014 when foreign troops complete their withdrawal and fully transition the security responsibilities to the national forces.
While there is a considerable optimism about the future because of the strategic partnership agreements signed between Afghanistan and several powerful countries of the world and their continued commitments to help and aid Afghanistan, the people continue to be frustrated with rampant administrative corruption and slow pace of reconstruction.
It seems that the main reason for optimism is the long-term commitment on the part of international community. But when it comes to the government, the people feel pessimistic. There is a logic for that - that is to say - when international community came into Afghanistan in 2001, Afghan people were very happy and optimistic about a better future but unfortunately the government led by President Hamid Karzai could not use and benefit this cooperation properly and effectively.
His mercurial behavior and continued unreasonable wrestling with the West, particularly with the United States of America led to squandered opportunities. President Karzai's blatant threatening to join the Taliban emboldened the militants and allowed them to operate more effectively and in a targeted fashion to kill and assassinate those prominent figures that fought the Taliban before 9/11 events. It also took away Afghan soldiers' motive to keep the brutal Taliban insurgents at bay.
President Karzai's propensity to rely on a corrupt patronage network allowed for increase in corruption as he once openly said to his patrons that they could continue to steal but should build their luxurious houses inside Afghanistan, not in Dubai or outside the country.
History could repeat itself - that is to say - Afghan people have become more optimistic due to the strategic partnership agreements. But the government may once again fail to use these agreements properly. There are some major political alliances and coalitions that distance themselves from this corrupt government.
National Front of Afghanistan and National Coalition of Afghanistan are the major groups that want fundamental political reforms. They represent more than 60 percent of Afghan people. In order to resist his political opponents, President Karzai will continue to rely on his own corrupt network. As a result, this will impact reconstruction and development efforts negatively.