Behind the headlines

IN LESS than 45 days in 2001, we Afghans were freed from the menace of terrorism and the Taleban. Back then, Afghanistan's people held great hopes for an immediately wonderful future. Some of those hopes were fulfilled. Our children are back in school. Roughly 85 per cent of Afghans now have access to some healthcare, up from 9 per cent before 2001. Child mortality has dropped by 25 per cent.

But, sadly, we are still fighting the Taleban and al-Qaeda. What is it that we have not done right that makes us – and the world – less secure?

After the liberation in 2001, the international community concentrated on Afghanistan alone as the pl...