Corruption among government officials, lack of good governance, rule of law and fragile economy are some big concerns that have potentially kept the incumbent government at bay. Since the issue of corruption, which is too rife in this county of ill-fated people, has been echoed and taken up in international summits on Afghanistan, the Tokyo Conference—the latest one in this regard, the Afghan president Hamid Karzai has broke the silence and declared a war on corruption. Karzai on Thursday listed good governance, an effective anti-corruption fight, strong and adamant economy, and rule of law as top priorities of his administration. Now the matter is that when the leper of corruption is too rife and too deep, how one man could bring a change and fight this very disease as the government has declared war against this hydra of corruption but since government officials are not sincere in taking the words, appeals and decrees of the Karzai administration seriously, that’s why all of the efforts and calls have been turned out a far cry. Against this backdrop, the Karzai administration should come on those who don’t taken seriously the repeated calls of the government to end corruption, for showing resilience and suppleness is tantamount to susceptibility and almost to surrender. The need is to chalk out a stern and well engineered mechanism, all-embracing in nature and effective in applicability. Lest such calls would remain only calls and vows. And banking upon mere slogans and calls is no effective strategy rather all these things alienate general masses from the government, which in no way can be termed a healthy and constructive trend. If the government wants to have strong foundations, win the trust and confidence of the general public, then it will have to clamp down seriously and sternly against the ever-soaring issue of corruption. Though, personally the president and few members of his administration are too serious and sincere in fighting the monster of corruption, but when majority is at it and doesn’t care about the calls and decrees of the government, then fighting it becomes a herculean task. And indeed the government is faced with this herculean challenge today. Though currently more or less 14 bodies are busy in fight against corruption but none of them can boast for major achievements on grounds. It is because of nepotism, when they arrest someone—here someone means a big dolphin and white collard influential man then there is almost a beeline of politicians and certain other VIPs to release them. If this is the culture, the war against corruption would remain ineffective. Recalling Karzai’s address to last month’s joint sitting of parliament, his office referred to a wide-ranging presidential decreed for reforms in the three branches of the government. In this regard a detailed statement has been issued from the Presidential Palace in Kabul that says the government departments would thoroughly discuss the reforms aimed at coping with the current challenges. Now the government has already vowed its war on corruption, the general public wish for good governance and rule of law has once again resurged and revitalized. Let this time it becomes a reality and this country becomes a corruption free, where there is no militancy, but rule of law, egalitarianism and merit-based decisions. For that the nation awaits a Hercules, whether be it in personification of Hamid Karzai or anyone else from his administration, but the people of Afghanistan is now waiting for its appearance from amongst us. And as Greek mythology says the many-headed monster called hydra was slain by Hercules so whoever slain this many-headed hydra of corruption in Afghanistan he definitely would be called and remembered an Afghan Hercules.�

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