It is of course sad that #KabulHasFallen but here are some important aspects to consider.
The population of #Afghanistan is very very young. The median age in the country is 18.4 years. Approx 42% of the country is younger than 14! Meaning, they were born after 2001.
The population of #Afghanistan is very very young. The median age in the country is 18.4 years. Approx 42% of the country is younger than 14! Meaning, they were born after 2001.
Close to 27% of the population of #Afghanistan lived in cities. They were exposed to media of various kinds (radio was the predominant medium in rural Afghanistan).
Those who were young and urban dwellers were mostly educated until secondary schools or were even enrolled in universities.
Of the 38 million Afghans, 10 million were students!
Of the 38 million Afghans, 10 million were students!
This means, most Afghans alive today did not live through the Saur Revolution or the Soviet Afghan War. Some might remember the Afghan Civil War and some others might remember the first Taliban rule.
But, most people remember a free media, higher education, foreign embassies and an awfully corrupt government.
#Taliban 2.0 cannot be an exact photocopy of the #Talibans in 1996.
Question is, will they be worse?
#Taliban 2.0 cannot be an exact photocopy of the #Talibans in 1996.
Question is, will they be worse?
Will 20 years of strife, US soldiers on ground, corrupt Afghan governments, western money, free(r) media and higher education be some kind of a check on five years of Sharia rule before that?
Not sure I like the chances for #AfghanWomen
Not sure I like the chances for #AfghanWomen
I spoke with some incredible young #journalists from #Afghanistan in April. They refused to give up then. Sadly, they cannot stay the course now. My heart goes out to them. Read here:
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/af…
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/af…
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