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Local Self Government

Local Self- Governments are those bodies that look after the administration of an area or small

community such as village, town or a city. These bodies are appointed by the Government

representing the local inhabitants, which raises its revenue partially through local taxation and

other means.

Local Self-Government in Afghanistan

When we talk about the local Self-Government it is mainly coming in the form of Federated

government which is an imposable and dangerous form of government in Afghanistan. Like all

its neighbors, including Iran and Pakistan, Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic land. Pashtuns are the

largest group and Tajiks a distant second, followed by Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Turkmens.

Obviously, any government that is to be legitimate must be organized in such a way as to assure

fair representation for all. If we look to the history, though there were no federated form ofgovernment in Afghanistan but the Idea of Local Self-Government was in the mind of some

political leaders and Mujahedeen warlords.

The best example of Local Self-Government in Afghanistan was the government of Mujahedeen

in 1992, where every province of the country was a separate government, different rules and

regulations were accomplished by the Mujahedeen leaders and warlords. Small village, towns

and cities were under the governance of the tribal leaders whom were again part of the

Mujahedeen groups.

Mohammad Ismail Khan a tribal leader and a commander of Mujahedeen regime, was one of

those bodies who accomplished the Local Self-Government in Herat Province of Afghanistan.

This type of governance was there till the Taliban regime came to Afghanistan in 1996.

Advantages of Federalism and Local Self-Governance

We can point to several obvious benefits of such an arrangement. Everyone wants a say in his or

her own government and, in a nation of separate ethnic groups, this system can assure such a

voice. It can also provide each territorial group with a decisive say over matters that concern

only that one locality. By doing so, it can foster participation at the regional level. And in so

doing, it can also create a counterbalance to what many fear could become an overweening

central government dominated by just one group, which in Afghanistan would be the Pashtuns.

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Disadvantages of Federalism and Local Self-Governance

In Afghanistan it is a dangerous and irresponsible proposal.

What rights will minority populations have in ethnic states and how will they be

protected is a question mark.

Since Afghanistan had experience the invasion of the foreigners in the past few years, if

the local self-governance and federalism concept come to the picture, it will divide

Afghanistan and facilitate the environment for foreign countries to interfere in the

internal issues of Afghanistan which will lead to inconsistencies in the country.

It will create inter-state conflicts which will lead to conflicts among the ethnic groups and

finally lead to bothersome for the entire nation.

There will be priority issues among the provinces and the benefits will not be divided to

the entire nation equally.

It helps smugglers to smuggle the narcotics, because of the privacy they get after the

panchayat or any other position's permission then no one can catch them.