"There is one thing missing in Afghanistan, which is the people's voice"

Afghans tentatively seek a voice after 30 years of conflict

15 Nov 2011 00:40

Source: Reuters // Reuters

An Afghan woman and her children walk past a destroyed building at the old part of Kabul August 3, 2011.REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

By Christine Kearney

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Nov 15 (Reuters) – After three decades of occupation, civil war, Taliban rule and a NATO-led military campaign, ordinary Afghans remain powerless and without a unified voice.

Many are too afraid to talk. The few that do speak out are barely able to share ideas with each other, much less address authorities.

“There is one thing missing in Afghanistan, which is the people’s voice,” said Saeed Niazi, an activist based in Kabul who aims to get ordinary Afghans much more involved in nation building as the country prepares for the exit of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. Read full article.