Paying Attention to the Problems of Youth in Badakhshan

 Transcribed by AI

Radio Voice of Life, dear listeners, hello. You are listening to our voice from Radio Voice of Life, which is broadcast every morning on the shortwave 31 metre band. I greet you, dear and esteemed listeners of the programme "With You." How are you? We hope that wherever you are, you are happy and well, ready to listen to our programme this evening.

Dear friends, you are listening to the programme "With You" from Radio Voice of Life. Well, dear friends, we once again have Jawad Jan with us in the studio. Welcome, Jawad Jan, to the programme "With You." Thank you, Shahid Jan, may you be alive and well. I also wish health for all our dear ones who listen to our programme and pray that they remain in perfect health. Amen.

Well, Jawad Jan, tell us and our dear friends, during the week that has passed, listeners called to say that they enjoy the programme and sometimes during the show they have questions or want to express their opinions. What questions or opinions did our friends who called have, and what were your responses to them?

Shahid Jan, many people called, and we thank all our dear ones who reach out. One person, Shahid Jan, called from Badakhshan. A few people had called, but it was one of them who said they were calling today. They requested that we pray for the people of Badakhshan. They said that there has been a lot of fighting in that area recently, between local commanders and Taliban forces.

They said they are either fighting or those commanders who were in that region have been fighting, or they are used to fighting and these things. But they asked us to please pray for the ordinary people. They said, "We don’t want to be among those who are neither on one side nor the other; we are ordinary people, neither Taliban nor Mujahideen. We are just regular folks."

But when fighting happens, they said whether you want it or not, ordinary people suffer. It is truly shown that in any situation, particularly when commanders are fighting among themselves, the ordinary people bear the brunt of it. People who are not aligned with any faction or party, but who lead normal, ordinary lives, always end up being harmed by the wars between commanders.

Yes, yes, Shahid Jan, our dear friend said there are many mines here, and in the past, many were armed just to loot and pillage. Now there are many who are still looting, and then political issues arise, wars break out, and disputes increase. They said please pray that these wars do not take place in the cities, that people can sit down and talk, and that the problems can be resolved. We, the people of Badakhshan, are those who are not thinking about these things; we just want to lead a simple, ordinary life and live in peace.

And when the Taliban come, because of the four armed fighters who are fighting today, they must be aware that they should not torment all ordinary people. The videos that are being made about this war must understand that they should not torture all ordinary people.

On one side, schools are closed for girls; they cannot continue after grade six, and on the other hand, schools that are open do not teach subjects that address the problems of society and the pain of the people. The only curriculum that is being taught in religious schools is being propagated in these schools. Therefore, not only are people suffering from this, but the future of Afghanistan looks completely bleak due to this curriculum.

Certainly, a society does not only need moral and religious issues. For the development of the country, we need doctors, engineers, and all other professions. It is truly a pain that all the people of Afghanistan are facing. Exactly, Shahid Jan, you are right. Shahid Jan, I was reading the word of God. There is a verse in the Holy Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 12, verse 1. It says, "If you tell a wise man his faults, he will be glad." But a fool hates criticism.

Shahid Jan, we see the mistakes, and we speak out. Yes. We hear the pain of the people; we are the voice of the people. This radio is the voice of the people. We bring forth what we hear about the pain of the people. And those who are in power, if they truly listen, I think, Shahid Jan, this will be beneficial for society and for the people.

But if the mistakes we hear from the people and speak about are not acknowledged, I must say it is foolish for someone to hate criticism. When you tell a wise person his mistakes, he will be happy. Yes. But it says the fool hates criticism. So the criticisms that the people make, Shahid Jan, are justified. They are complete. Action should be taken based on them, addressing the shortcomings.

In this year, Proverbs chapter 14, verse 28 says, "The greatness of a king is determined by the number of people he governs." A king without subjects is destroyed. Yes. So for anyone in power in Afghanistan, anyone who was or is or will be in the future, our advice, according to the word of God, is that we hope the mistakes and problems are resolved so that ordinary people can have a dignified, peaceful, and happy life.

Yes. Shahid Jan, isn’t there fear? Absolutely, yes. And anyone who is in power cannot continue in this way forever. Because people need shelter, work, and bread; they need jobs to support themselves and their families. Yes. And any government that continues in this way will darken its own future.

A government that does not connect with its people, a government that does not pay attention to the pains and struggles of its people, does not have a bright future, and the people will rise against it. Because the duty of the government is to provide security and create job opportunities so that the people can lead their lives in peace and harmony.

Yes, Shahid Jan. We have heard from many people who say one thing: there is unemployment. We are unemployed. We have no money. Prices have skyrocketed, especially after the war in Ukraine and after the war in Iran. Particularly our farmers are suffering; they cannot sell what they cultivated and harvested.

One of my friends said they planted wheat, but it remains there. They planted beans, but they remain there. We cannot sell what we have grown. It was fruits, vegetables, anything. They say it remains there. Previously, we could export through Pakistan, for example, but that route is now closed. Then it started through Iran, and that has also been shut down. And now people are truly unemployed.

But when these problems arise, what does the word say? In this year, chapter 15, verse 1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." So the government can also respond softly to the people who have problems. They should sit down and listen to the people. In this way, people can have some tolerance. It cannot be that when people have problems, you apply pressure on them, force them, and then tell them that they are at fault.

Many people are neither against the government nor against anything else; they are not aligned with any party, nor do they follow any other opinion. Many people are simple folk. Those who once held guns and the commanders who fought in the past may have had power, but now they come to fight and create wars.

I was talking to someone else, and they said, "We were born into war so that we would die, and we fight." These people only fight for their own benefit. Very few care about the nation, but when the people express something, if the people are pained, if the people are crying, they should listen to soft words.

Not that they take up arms against them and torment the people. Shahid Jan, we are hearing these things from the people, and truly may God help our dear people in all provinces, as our people are facing health issues and winter is approaching. There is so much distress that people wonder how to cope.

The person I mentioned, the farmer, said, "We cultivated these things, but we could not sell the harvest. Now we only eat bread and tea." He swore and said, "We don’t even have enough bread for our children." In the morning, evening, and night, he said, "We only eat bread and drink tea." He said, "We have nothing else to eat."

He said, "I am ashamed as a man to go home because we have nothing." He said once, a few months ago, he went to a hotel for a wedding. He said, "When they brought bread to the table, my heart ached because they had a whole plate of apples." He wished he could take some home for his children. It is truly heart-wrenching, and it breaks one's heart to hear these stories. But this is the reality of our society right now. People are fully aware that the people of Afghanistan are in a very bad situation.

There are those who mentioned the winter to you. During the last winter, many people died under tents and suffered. And now autumn is coming again, and unemployment has reached its peak. People do not have money to prepare for winter. This coming winter, people will need wood and hard materials to keep their homes warm.

But if there is no money and no work, how can they provide wood, oil, and other necessities for their families? Yes, yes, Shahid Jan, you are right; the problems are many. And again, I read a few verses from the Holy Proverbs, and again in chapter 14, verse 31, it says, "He who oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honours Him."

So this is a continuation: those in power, those who can, instead of oppressing, I hope they show mercy to the people, as our people are currently in a very difficult situation. These are the things we hear, Shahid Jan, from the phone calls we take from the people, and we hear their sorrows. And with every one we speak to, this is what I hear, Shahid Jan.

One of the young men called and said, "I see that in our area, day by day, our young people are aging, but the customs and traditions we have have taken away our ability to marry." He said, "We have no work, we have nothing; the young people are aging, but the customs and traditions in our society have made it so that we must bear the heavy costs of marriage."

He said, "Therefore, we young people, I know many young people in my area, we all remain single. We cannot get married." He said, "We cannot take any action, as our society is patriarchal and elder-led. Whatever the elders say is what happens." A few years ago, the elders were discussing this issue; they said that our capabilities have been reduced from being able to marry and have families.

Therefore, he said, "We young people, I know many young people who remain unmarried and cannot marry." He said, "I have encouraged one young man, I told him if you do something and gather a few young men like you, go and speak to the elders about the issues facing our society. This is our problem as young people. Let’s come together and form a group of several people and respectfully ask the elders what help they can provide."

He said, "The girls are also getting older, and the young men are getting older. Are you thinking about us? What are you doing to help us build families and lives?" If it continues like this, a young man used to go to Iran, but now he doesn’t understand; he used to work and earn money, but he could also die on the way. If he was successful, he would gather some money and return to marry, while now he cannot.

I told the older ones to sit down and talk. I encouraged them to calmly discuss their grievances. I told them, "Look, Gandhi brought about change in India; how? He did it through calmness and peaceful means." There were many other groups in India fighting for freedom, but when they fought, it brought destruction. I said, "You young people should come together and discuss with the elders and see if you can find a solution."

Perhaps many of our villages and cities have such a patriarchal or elder-led society, and when problems arise, young people cannot even express their views. Yes, indeed, unfortunately, these customs and traditions have continued. I hope our people become aware of this issue; the situation has changed significantly. In the past, for example, everything was available and people could earn money in various ways, but now the situation is such that not only inside Afghanistan but also abroad, everything is moving towards mechanisation, and more and more people are becoming unemployed.

Our people need to learn to live for themselves, not for others. The only problem is that they want to live for others, and the only solution is to learn to live for themselves. They can only solve their own problems; no one else can remove their difficulties.

Therefore, according to their economic capacity, they should proceed with their work and take action, and the other side also has the same problem. The girls are growing up and aging, so it is better that families come together to discuss this topic, to make decisions and work so that neither side suffers, and both the girls and boys can fulfil their aspirations and maintain the family’s honour.

Exactly, yes, Shahid Jan, you have said the same. When this young man spoke with me, he said, "Jawad Jan, you do not know my father. If I speak up, he will hit me." He said, "I am about 26 years old, and if I speak up, he hits me or grabs a stick and chases me away." He said, "I respect him a lot."

But he said, "Our elders do not understand that I am younger than my father, and I truly respect him, but I run away." He said, "Our elders do not understand how to engage with their children." They do not understand that when we were young, they used to hit us, teach us, and guide us, but now that I am 26 or 27 years old, I am not a child anymore; I am an adult. Instead of hitting me, they should talk to me. I wish my father would listen to my concerns."

But he said, "Unfortunately, in our society, they only think that because they are older, what they say is right." This is the reality we face; we must learn from our children. Shahid Jan, I have two daughters, and when they were small, I could guide them, teach them, and help them. There were times when I would help them put on their shoes.

But now that they are older, we are like friends. Shahid Jan, you know my family; you have seen my family, and we have seen yours. We learned how to treat our children properly, to respect their characters. Just as they respect us, we must also respect our youth.

That is when we can raise our children well. But if at that age, a father rises up and beats and scolds a young person, that is completely wrong. It truly leads to conflict and begins discord in the family, and the respect that exists disappears. When respect is lost in the family, it is no longer a family; it is always at odds, there is always conflict, the father’s opinion is not accepted, nor is the children’s opinion accepted by the parents.

Interactions should be according to the circumstances and the age of the children. When a child grows up, just as the parents were children once and are now aging, the same applies to the children; they are no longer kids, they have grown up and have needs. Their needs should be addressed, and problems must be resolved through dialogue and reasoning.

Yes, Shahid Jan, yes, I truly hope that the fathers who are listening to our programme will pay attention to this matter so they can support their families. It is not about exerting force; it is about bringing love into the family. Love is what will bring peace. Families need love; a young person does not need to be beaten, nor do they need harsh words. The word of God says, when we read in the Bible, Colossians chapter 3, verse 21 says: "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged."

We must take this to heart; it is a great lesson. If we wish to speak about these matters, we can do so, but my prayer is that God truly grants success and helps our elders to support our youth, and our youth to respect their elders. Thank you, Jawad Jan, for coming to the studio. You brought up a very good topic; our youth truly need attention and care. The circumstances have changed, and we must engage with the youth according to these circumstances.

Well, dear friends, this was our programme this evening, presented to you dear ones. Until the next programme, where we will again be at your service, I commend you all to God. Be kind, so that you may live forever in this world, like a tree in spring, not like a branch in autumn. May you be kind, so that you may live forever in this world. You will not dry up, like a thirsty Talib, and may the waters of the boundless sea flow for you. May you be kind, so that you may live forever in this world. You will shine in the night like the sun in the sky. May you be kind, so that you may live forever in this world.