In a powerful TedX speech, Afghan ambassador Masood Khalili warns against the West abandoning Afghanistan, drawing parallels to past mistakes and advocating for continued international support to prevent further devastation.
Masood Khalili, Afghan ambassador to Spain – and son of famed 20th century Afghan poet Khalillulah Khalili – makes an impassioned plea from the heart in an Alcobendas, Spain TedX for the West not to abandon Afghanistan post-2014. The United States and Europe did this once before following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989. The end was result was a horrific civil war in Kabul costing the lives of 50,000 men, women and children, followed by the rise of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the events of 9/11 and a pointless US-led war in Afghanistan. Khalili notes that Afghanistan’s location coupled with the interference of its neighbours have ensured over 35 years of war. Nevertheless, Khalili has hope that the country can – and will be allowed – to proceed to real recovery. See TedX VIDEO.