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| Reconstructing the concept of ‘security’ in Afghanistan — II |
| Bashir A. Ansari |
| Even though the Taliban claim to be the representatives of God on earth, their definition of security is contrary to what is stated in the Quran. I will simply refer to two verses of Quran from the chapter of Quraish which says: “Let them adore the Lord of this House, Who provides them with food against hunger and with security against fear”.
We can clearly see in these two verses that fear has been placed as the complete opposite of the notion of security. We also see that rescue from starvation which is referred to as ‘Food Security’ is placed right beside security itself. In Quranic language security, trustworthy and faith have all derived from a single source. Centuries before western scholars, Firozabadi in his famous ‘Encyclopedia of the language’ had referred to fear and terror as the opposite point of security.
This chapter points out that security cannot be achieved through the might of the sword but only through compassion and kindness and food security.
Even religion cannot be implemented until and unless social security and food security are provided to a nation. In the Quran, An’am chapter verse 82, it is said that only those people will achieve security who have not convoluted their faith with tyranny and oppression. In Nisa chapter, verse 83, the Quran has once again placed fear and terror as the opposite point to security.
In brief, the Quranic notion of security is in complete agreement with the modern-day strategist’s interpretations, as it focuses on both ‘Social security’ and ‘Societal security’.
‘Social security’ gives an economic interpretation and does so from the perspective of the individual, while ‘Societal security’ revolves around the collective identity of a community.
Whenever economic and political events have an effect over this collective identity, it is analyzed under the notion of ‘Societal security’.
Societal security has little to do with the financial and economic capabilities of the individual; it has more to do with the various layers of a society’s identity and the actions taken to defend the collective notion of ‘us’.
Societal security is threatened whenever people feel that very collective sense to be undermined. Today there are groups in Afghanistan who want the official name of the country to change because they feel it has a strong ethnic connotation to it, but in my belief this is not one of our nation’s priorities.
Basically as we see an increase in the complexity of social relations and the weakening of the physical elements of security, we also observe the proportional increase in the need for the non-physical needs of security. If we were to use computer terminology, we can say the ‘Software’ needs of security are outweighing its ‘Hardware’ needs.
By hardware needs we are referring to military might, policing and barbed wires while by software needs we mean political legitimacy, social solidarity, the collective identity, cultural authenticity and the spiritual depth of a society.
Most of the challenges which are threatening the peace and security of this country, region and the world have a diverse range of root causes which have to be studied and researched on the ground level.
The solution to the security crisis in Afghanistan needs revision. We have to answer questions like, who are we providing security for, for which set of values, against which threats and using which tools. To achieve security, the people of Afghanistan need their collective identity to be defined based on realities on the ground.
They need to formally recognise the international boundaries of Afghanistan because the people who have been at war for the past three decades cannot pay for tribal loyalties in the southern regions with their blood anymore. Another suggestion would be that Afghanistan be recognized as a peaceful zone and its security be maintained by its neighbouring countries and world powers who accepts its neutrality.
Is it possible to start the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s security, a land of ethnic minorities, by starting to reconstruct its social identity? This is the question that begs to be answered. |
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