Meeting in O.C., Afghans Talk of Rebuilding Nation

About 300 Afghan Americans from across Southern California gathered Saturday in Buena Park to discuss rebuilding their homeland in an unusual meeting that was part peace rally, part political campaign.

Many enlisted to return to Afghanistan if the Taliban is overthrown, vowing to help restart schools, hospitals and a democratic government. They are resting their hopes on the deposed Afghanistan king, Mohammad Zaher Shah, who is calling for an emergency loya jirga, or grand assembly, with a broad-based tribal government.

The assembly was proposed at 120 members, with representation from the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, Pashtuns and other Afghan tribes. On Saturday, allies of the exiled king called for expanding the group to 150 to 200 to help form a temporary government.

The 87-year-old king is widely viewed as the only leader with the unifying power to bring peace. Zaher Shah has agreed to serve as a figurehead, but would step aside once a new leader is elected.

“All the doors had closed. Only one door was there and behind that door was the king,” said Abdul Malek Siddiqi of San Diego, one of the meeting organizers and a former judge in Afghanistan. “Only the door that led to Zaher Shah had to be opened. This is the will of the nation and every eye of this nation is waiting for him to take over.”

Zaher Shah inherited the throne as a 19-year-old when his father was assassinated in 1933. He was overthrown in 1973 and not stepped foot in Afghanistan since the coup.

The king’s grandson and assistant, Prince Mostapha Zaher, said in an earlier telephone interview from Rome that the king is willing and able to serve: “His Majesty is in good mental and physical health despite his age. He is doing remarkably well.”

The prince said he has begun compiling lists of volunteers willing to help bring peace to Afghanistan.

“I sincerely believe that it is the duty of every Afghan man and woman to aid in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan,” Zaher said. “The response has been very positive. I’m confident that many Afghans will accept the risks involved and will assist in the very difficult task of rebuilding Afghanistan’s shattered infrastructure.”

But before rebuilding can begin, many Afghans were seeking assurances Saturday that peace will prevail--that the United States and other countries won’t neglect Afghanistan after the fighting stops.

The king’s former minister of justice, professor Abdul Sattar Sirat, told the crowd via telephone from Rome that the king is negotiating with the United Nations to support a security coalition that would form a “backbone of peace.”

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton), who also attended Saturday’s meeting, said the United States has a duty to “right a wrong.” The United States has pledged $320 million in humanitarian assistance. A congressional delegation also met recently with Zaher Shah in Rome to discuss his peace plan.

Attendees also questioned the roles of Pakistan, India and Iran in the nation-building process. On that point, Royce’s answer was met with a standing ovation:

“We want the leaders of other countries in that region to get out and stay out as we rebuild Afghanistan. Let’s stay the course. Let’s see this through. Let’s prepare to celebrate the day when freedom comes back to Afghanistan.”