America Take a positive view about the Taliban
I hold a positive view about the behavior of the Taliban after taking control of Afghanistan. 

I observed that the leaders have behaved responsibly and have made encouraging statements about their future governance of the country. Their fighters are also disciplined.

My positive view is a minority view. Most people hold a negative view about the Taliban.

Their reasons are:

1. The Taliban leaders and followed had acted atrociously in the past when they governed Afghanistan and when they fought against the government that was set up by the allied forces.

2. They practiced an extreme form of their religion and will continue their oppressive actions.

3. Their soft approach now is temporary, as they wish to gain international recognition. They will revert to their past behavior when they consolidated their power.

As I said earlier, I hold a different view about the future. Here are my thoughts:

4. The new leaders of the Taliban are different from the past. They realized that they need international help to develop their country and give a better life for the people.

5. The world has changed during the past two decades. The people of Afghanistan has also changed. The Taliban will also change their approach to meet the new circumstances.

6. There are many countries that follow Shariah law. Many follow a moderate form of the religion and are accepted by the people in their daily lives. 

Many people are influenced by materials that described the atrocity committed by the Taliban soldiers. These materials were produced by the western media. Most of the materials are likely to be biased.

While some of the atrocities of the Taliban soldiers had probably occurred, I believe that the atrocities are committed by the other side as well, although they were given less prominence.

Here is my approach.

I prefer to look at what is happening now, rather than what had happened in the past. 

I look at the views that are presented on both sides. Some are positive towards the Taliban, while others are negative. I try to see what views are objective and which are biased. I make my final conclusion after seeing the facts and the way that it has been presented.

So far, my view is positive towards what is now happening in Afghanistan.

I am aware that things may change and the Taliban may revert to their past practices. This is a possibility, and is not the inevitable course of events. 

I prefer to be positive.

Tan Kin Lian
 

Add Comment

---