Afghanistan and Afghan people have transformed so much over the last two decades despite all the woes and suffering. Afghans now know the servants and traitors well. The reactions of Afghan people to the killing of a Japanese-Afghan aid worker, Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, in eastern Nangarhar province, showed the nation has largely been awakened over the past two decades. Afghans honored Dr. Nakamura, who had dedicated much of his life to helping Afghans and implemented several vital irrigation infrastructure projects in eastern Afghanistan, as a real hero, but unfortunately posthumously.
The reaction of Afghans with tears and homage to Nakamura’s demise has a clear message to both foreigners and Afghan leaders who should not forget it. The message to foreigners is that Afghans are not xenophobic as portrayed. Afghan nation sees foreigners, who have come to Afghanistan to truly lend a helping hand to people without having any hidden political and intelligence agendas, as guests and if their efforts prove beneficial, as heroes. Nakamura honestly served Afghans, and so was commemorated as a hero. Nakamura’s passionate commitment to helping the people of Afghanistan earned him not only an immense respect and admiration but friendship, too.
The message to Afghan leaders is that Afghan people count on actions than words. If they really want to become heroes, they have to translate their words into actions. The time when political leaders would play with public perception through hollow promises has gone. Widespread access to information has helped the public to differentiate between realities and propaganda. The political leaders cannot earn the hearts and minds of people through demagoguery.
The death of Nakamura must have jolted the egos of Afghan political leaders. Afghan people are not unthankful. They will always respect those who serve them, irrespective of their political ideology, religion and race. Those who are seeking their individual interests under the cover of serving people should learn a lesson from how Nakamura’s death was mourned, and rest assured that the history will judge them nicely and the nation will recognize them as heroes only when they truly improve their life. Otherwise, they cannot win the hearts and minds of people through deceitful slogans and demagoguery and become heroes.