German conference on Afghanistan

Berlin, Jan 29, IRNA -- A conference hosted by the German opposition party The Left (Die Linke) here Friday evening highlighted the western countries' failure in pacifying the war-stricken country.

Addressing the opening session of the two-day conference on Afghanistan, the head of The Left faction, Gregor Gysi stressed that the West had 'not achieved any of its goals' in Afghanistan.

He pointed out that NATO's war in Afghanistan was 'not combating terrorism but
producing new terrorism.'

Gysi added the controversial western military mission in Afghanistan had also
led to even more misery and poverty.

The MP reiterated the war in Afghanistan was 'only exacerbating problems and not solving them.'

Gysi's remarks were echoed by renowned German war correspondent Ulrich Tilgner who said the West had also failed in the civil reconstruction of Afghanistan.

He added the West had a chance to successfully rebuild the war-ravaged country within the first five years of the NATO invasion but missed that opportunity.

Tilgner emphasized that the West's failed reconstruction mission had led to the
military escalation in that country.

Meanwhile, a former Afghan lawmaker said there was 'nothing hopeful' about her country nine years after the US attack on her country, branding it an 'ongoing tragedy.'

Malalai Joya lambasted the 'war-mongering' policies of the US President Barack Obama, saying it had only caused death and destruction in her country.

She said the US had no real intention of leaving Afghanistan.

Joya also accused US and NATO troops of committing massacres in Afghanistan.

The outspoken political activist called for an international trial, dealing with
Taliban and NATO war crimes.

Joya made clear the Afghan resistance was the 'only hope' for the future of
her country.