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Afghans say life no better after invasion

SPIN BOLDAK: Seven years after the attacks on New York and Washington, the event that sparked off the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, many Afghans say life is no better and some say its worse. Following the overthrow of the Taliban, Afghans hoped their country, ravaged by decades of war, would finally see peace. But with worsening security situation and the slow pace of development, Afghans have become disillusioned and frustrated. A recent spate of civilian deaths caused by US-led air strikes has added salt to their wounds. “After the 9/11 attacks, when the US and her allies overthrew the Taliban government, the US promised the Afghan nation stability, safety and jobs,” Haji Allah Dad, a 60-year-old trader in the southern town of Spin Boldak, said. “But they have done nothing for us. They drop bombs on the civilian population and have killed thousands of Afghans in the last seven years, while the Taliban get stronger day by day.” “We feel no change in our lives,” said Mohammad Usman, a 40-year-old shopkeeper from Spin Boldak. “They (foreign forces) are not the enemy of the Taliban, they are the enemy of the Afghan people. The US army calls us Al Qaeda and kills us but we don’t know what Al Qaeda is.” Violence has surged in Afghanistan over the last three years with more than 2,500 people killed, including 1,000 civilians, in the first six months of this year alone, aid agencies say. Killing of ordinary Afghans by foreign forces evokes great emotions among the populace. Ali Jan, a 30-year-old bearded man from Spin Boldak, wants the Taliban back because under them life was safer, he says. “In those times there were no security problems. Now US forces began killing Afghan civilians and destroying our country,” said Ali Jan, adding that he had paid the Taliban money during this holy month of Ramazan. “We are forced to help the Taliban against the occupying forces because the Taliban are Muslims and Afghans. They are fighting for the freedom of Afghanistan,” he said. reuters

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