lOQuestions Fawzia Koofi 5*e€ fu*r€*€?e*r= fur*€Fe*c" ere# fuecsfue*d €* w*r*"*€ Eae&€gfue*€c€eaE Sfuek *#w e s'€€*s*fuer *€ *erEEe=eeece€ "l struggle to understand how the West ignored Ahmed Shah Massoud's warnings about lslamic terrorism," says Koofi How many attempts have been made on your Iife? Two majorattempts. Onewas a fi ght between my soldiers and Taliban. The secondwas an at- tempt to assassinate me inmy campaign office. But almost everytwo months I get aletter from our security department warning me of death threats. You also get marriage propos- als. Which doyou get more of? There's a balance between the two, but I think people lose hope after trying to convince me to marry and then become my opponents. So I need to be careful about rejecting them. As a newborn, you were left outside to die. When you sur- vived, your mother took you in. Did you talk to her about that? I always had sympathy for her, because as a woman in Afghanistan, she didn't want to deliver a girl. She knew girls did not receive enough care and love from the father and the family. She told me she thought the way to give me another life was for me to die. But I think after that day she understood that I have the determination to face the problems of this world. ln your new book The Fxorcd Daughterryou say your father spoke to you only once-to tell you to go away. lthy did you admirehim? I admire my father for being a hardworking, passionate, very tough parliamentarian fi ght- ing for his people's rights. As a husband, as a father, he didn't accomplish his responsibili- ties very well. Would I accept him if he hadn tbeen killed when I was 4? I'm not sure. !s democracy really possible inAlghanistan? Afghanistan is a traditional country. But within that tradi- tion there have always been democratic institutions like local councils. If we give peo- ple a voice, they will go for it. Even in the few elections we had, with all the security chal- lenges in areas like Helmand and Kandahar, people went to the polling stations minutes after the Taliban rocket attacks. What they need is mobiliza- tion and support. Should NATOboops still be there? The presence ofthe troops in Afghanistan is a nee4 not an option. Withdrawalis also a need, but it shouldbe carried out to ensure that we go for- ward. Proper withdrawal means that Afghan armed forces are strong, that the Afghan government delivers good government. How long do you think it will take to tet theAfghan forces ready to take over security? Itwas onlyin zoo8 that the international commu- nity really started to support Afghan forces. We need to make sure that they're being given the required equip- ment, the required training. It takes time. Washing your hands and saying that we are done in Afghanistan is not goingto help. Does the Taliban have a place in Afghanistan's government? First, there are questions that need to be answered: What are the issues that we will compromise on? Does the Taliban really want to share power, or do they want to rule the country? I thinkwe need to talk to them from a position of power. We were elected. Do you think Pakistan is aiding theTaliban? There is no question that Paki- stan is supporting Taliban. The question is whether the civilian leaders are involved. Are you goingto run for President? IfI'm alive in three years. In Afghanistan, you never know. -BELINDA LUSCOMBE I = tr = I ; = 48 rtrrt February 20,zot2