Sometimes people say, “The Taliban have built a few roads, so they must be doing a good job.” But can a government really be judged only by a few construction projects?
Building roads, bridges, schools, and other public facilities is a normal duty of every government. These are not special gifts or favors. They are responsibilities that every government has toward its people. Citizens pay taxes, and the country’s resources belong to all citizens.
Imagine a school principal who paints the school walls but does not allow students to study. Would people consider that principal successful? Of course not. The main purpose of a school is to educate students, not simply to paint buildings.
The same principle applies to governments. If a government builds a few roads but denies education to millions of girls, limits basic freedoms, reduces job opportunities, and causes large numbers of citizens to leave the country, people have the right to evaluate its performance from every angle.
For example, many countries around the world build thousands of miles of roads. However, people do not judge their governments only by roads. They ask important questions. Has the economy improved? Do people have jobs? Has education improved? Is there justice? Are citizens’ rights respected?
A successful government is not measured only by asphalt and buildings. Real success is when people can enjoy a better life, children can go to school, young people can find jobs, investment increases, and citizens feel hopeful about the future.
Afghanistan today faces major challenges such as poverty, unemployment, large scale migration, the denial of education for girls, and a lack of economic opportunities. Solving these problems is far more important than focusing only on a few roads or construction projects.
We should remember that building roads is not a special gift or an extraordinary achievement. Almost every government in the world builds roads. The difference is that a good government also creates jobs, provides education, grows the economy, respects citizens’ rights, and gives people hope for the future.
People should expect more from a government than just a few roads. Roads are necessary, but they are not enough. A good government develops infrastructure, creates economic opportunities, strengthens education, provides justice, and builds a better future for the next generation.
Therefore, building a few roads may be a positive step, but it is never enough to fully judge a government. A government’s performance should be measured by its overall services, justice, education, economy, basic freedoms, and the quality of life of its people.
Noor Wodjouatt
