One of the critical issues that attracted huge attention since the very involvement of international community was women rights. Domestic and foreign NGOs that worked in this field easily received huge fund to bring changes in the women’s lives. Despite visible changes made, the mentality of large number of people still remains the same. Apart from a minority intellectuals who also have failed to provide a new interpretation from sources that people believe the rest of people resist against any possible democratic change. No doubt, Afghan women work in public and private offices but they are not viewed appropriately by their colleagues even. I have often heard that a girl did not get a marriage proposal only and only because of working in an NGO.

In Afghan history, there have been certain people who tried to bring change in the society but failed. Almost a century ago, democratic movement was commenced by Afghan popular King, Mr. Amanullah Khan, yet the history is riddled with failures of the move. His government and subsequent regimes who have tried to spearhead the modernization always sparked resistance which ultimately led to their collapse.

But, what about the destiny of the current system? Will it be doomed to the destiny of its fellows in the history? The answer of these two questions are as complicated as the Afghans youths’ behavior because they depend on numbers of if’s and if not’s. Meanwhile there is one certain thing: the West’s sacrifices have not yielded the required results.

With such an enormous amount of money spent for the restoration of peace and institutionalization of democracy, the foreign military withdrawal has sparked serious concerns among people and our allies about a possible backward progress. Because Afghan officials time and again have proved that they feel no commitment to democracy and human rights.

In addition,  with the scheduled timing for military withdrawal which necessarily might led to decline of financial support, the anti-democratic forces with the support of neighboring and regional countries will become bolder in restricting the sphere for maneuvering modern values. Presently, many TV channels and press are directly funded by countries who seek their influence in curbing the spread of Western values. There are signs revealing that these countries with their small donation in comparison to enormous amount of money of the West are doing far better. They have well-established networks and their activities indeed have lasting and deep effects on Afghans’ traditions and mentality. In other words, it seems that the West is losing the battle of the ongoing soft-war.

House wife and cliché girls are still the model. Those who are working out are deemed as perverted girls who have no dignity. Walking with a type of clothing which bear similarity to Western style is enough for a girl to hear any kind of abusive words and foul language, taken from indecent to easy virtue and prostitute.

For Afghans the ideal woman is a woman who is covered from top to toe and a cliché housewife. Such women are the model and symbol of dignity and virtuousness that everybody should learn from them, even if the reality is different. I do not dispute that such mentality has developed during recent years what I am saying is this that West’s sacrifices and efforts have not given the due results which otherwise could change such mentality.

It is hard to accept but the root cause of the problem lies with the wrong policies of the Western countries. They invested on the wrong people and went after those who may never come to a conclusion that modern values are not designed or a plot to make Muslims to change or give up their religion. In other words, they chased influential leaders who get the money only and only in exchange for not to announce Jihad against foreign military presence. They do not believe that values such as democracy and human rights are something that should be embraced because they ensure human dignity. To modern values propagated by West are against Islamic fundamental values. So, no matter how much flow into their pockets from a Western address, they will not work for institutionalization of democracy and human rights.

Therefore, to change Afghan society, Western countries should reassess their policies. They need to open the door of dialogue and discourse with those, particularly youngsters, who themselves believe in democracy and human right but have no support to be flagship for fundamental ground change. Considering the establishment of power structures, it can be easy to understand this layer of the society has rare presence. Even those who, to some extent are known as Western technocrats, have rose to power only in alliance with traditional power holders. Both Afghan democrats and West should commence a constructive dialogue before it is too late. No matter if you change the entire life of a person, as far as he thinks that killing you uplifts his spiritual status in the front of Allah Almighty, he will not live in peace with you though your money may seduce him to announce in a truce. For a real change, this mentality and this thinking system. It may not occur unless individuals and institutions get the support that have grown up under the very culture but have reached to a conclusion that they were wrong. They have the commitment to change the society because of their belief meanwhile own no resources to spearhead them. This is the vacuum that can be and should be filled with the right policies of the international community.