Afghanistan Times
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The cycle of violence in Afghanistan doesn’t stop at claiming the innocent lives of Afghans but takes its toll on the humanitarians as well – those who devote their careers to improving the lives of Afghans. The callous murder of the head of a Japanese NGO, Japan Peace Japan Medical Services (PMS), along with five Afghan aid workers in an attack in eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday morning was a sobering and shocking experience for all Afghans across the country. The NGO chief came under attack on his way to inspect an irrigation project and later on succumbed to his injuries. Unfortunately, attacks on the aid workers have turned fairly commonplace in Afghanistan because last week, a US national working for the UN in Kabul was also killed in a blast targeting a UN vehicle.
Late Nakamura has been involved in Afghanistan for more than 30 years and was granted honorary citizenship of Afghanistan by President Ashraf Ghani in October this year for his long-lasting services and humanitarian work in the country. His agency’s humanitarian work has been focused on providing medical services for poor Afghans and his charity also contributed to improving irrigation in the country. Murdering a person who personified goodness and goodwill at its best and was purely dedicated to helping others cannot be justified by anyone. As none of the infamous insurgent groups have claimed responsibility for the assassination, this heinous act is surely the handiwork of Afghanistan’s enemies and the regional intelligence networks, who could in no way tolerate a prosperous, rehabilitated and progressive Afghanistan. The current situation has worried Afghans to a great extent because such acts of terror, barbarity and cruelty are unprecedented and this means whoever wants to serve this country will be targeted.
Therefore, the authorities should know that just condemning such acts would take us nowhere. It reflects badly on the government for failing to protect those who are committed to helping others. The government should spring into action to prevent such incidents in future and arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice – only this would help repay late Nakamura for his services and help him rest in peace. Dr. Nakamura was working on water management, dams and improving traditional agriculture in Afghanistan, something for which he didn’t deserve this senseless murder. He reportedly used to say: “Weapons and tanks don’t solve problems. The revival of farming is the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s recovery.” This quote itself reveals how committed he was to uplifting Afghans’ situation and promoting human welfare. But this wasn’t bearable to the enemies of Afghanistan who don’t want this country flourished and showed their dark face by committing inhumanity to a humanitarian.
