Nathan Hodge over at Danger Room has an interesting post on the US Army's Human Terrain System and its concerning Iranian influence in Afghanistan
Hodge makes some good points about the quality of the reporting, but what stood out to me was the effect of indirect and direct Iranian assistance in Bamiyan province.
This province, famous for the two 1000-year-old Buddhas carved out of the mountains, and which Taliban blew up, is home to a large population of Hazaras. These are a distinct ethnic group which has traditionally been quite low on the Afghan totem pole. They also speak a dialect of Persian, practice Shia Islam, and many have worked and lived in Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has never been against the schooling of girls despite its insistence that they cover their hair in public and wear no make up, as well as giving them fewer rights than men. However their attitudes towards women are eons passed those of the Taliban, and Afghan women returning from Iran to Bamiyan are showing increased interest in education and work. This may be far more effective than competing Western NGO's attempting to influence local populations.
Like many Afghans, most Hazaras have had little access to education ever. Perhaps for them, especially those living in still-safe Bamiyan, life quality really is improving.
Iran has also invested significantly in Afghanistan's development, inthe agricultural sector, power grid and transport, as well as built schools and libraries and provided emergency food assistance.
However there have also been reports that the Iranian government is providing some light assistance to Taliban and other fighters, presumably to keep ISAF and US forces busy, despite tha Taliban's intolerance of Shias. Any such assistance may level off if the recent spate of attacks and bombs, tied to Taliban friends Jundallah, in Iran continues.
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