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Feeling devastated after seeing this news about Afghanistan

455 replies

LovingLilacDuck · 19/05/2026 08:13

I stumbled across this on BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q25dwj807o

I can’t stop crying. I feel so incredibly devastated that we live in such an unequal world. I cannot believe in 2026 people have to starve and children die — and girls be sold??? because of hunger. Goodness sake. That’s not right, it’s so inhumane. Seeing the tears on those tiny girls’ eyes and how fearful they are just breaks my heart so much, oh Gosh.

I just really feel sorry for these people who have to live under Taliban and suffer immensely. It’s so heartbreaking. And I know these people are not the only ones unfortunately…I just feel like we all have so much, more than we all need to and I wish we could just help the poor more as a whole world. But that doesn’t bring any profits does it???!

I wish I could do something to help, whatever that may be. Does anyone have a clue about what to do? I’d appreciate any insight. Thank you.

A man wearing a pink turban cuddles his small daughter close in front of a cracked mud wall

Afghanistan humanitarian crisis: Ghor's starving families

In Afghanistan today, a staggering three in four people cannot meet their basic needs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q25dwj807o

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
OtterlyAstounding · 21/05/2026 23:11

GaIadriel · 21/05/2026 21:42

It's easy to opine on what you'd do but reality tells us that people often change their tune when the theoretical becomes the actual.

Classic example being elderly/terminally ill people often saying they're 'ready to go' but then fighting tooth and claw for their life when the time comes.

That goes both ways. As I said: Even just from person to person, let alone country to country, how people will react will be different.

People can't say, "Oh, you definitely wouldn't react the way you've said you will," precisely because no one knows. Some people might sell their daughters into sexual slavery, but equally, others might not.

But I still view the men who do it, in that situation in Afghanistan, with contempt – as I'm entitled to.

Borrowerdale · 22/05/2026 00:34

OtterlyAstounding · 21/05/2026 23:11

That goes both ways. As I said: Even just from person to person, let alone country to country, how people will react will be different.

People can't say, "Oh, you definitely wouldn't react the way you've said you will," precisely because no one knows. Some people might sell their daughters into sexual slavery, but equally, others might not.

But I still view the men who do it, in that situation in Afghanistan, with contempt – as I'm entitled to.

This also ignores the other half of the equation - would your brother buy your five year old daughter in order to rape her daily and force her to be a domestic slave?

OtterlyAstounding · 22/05/2026 00:46

Borrowerdale · 22/05/2026 00:34

This also ignores the other half of the equation - would your brother buy your five year old daughter in order to rape her daily and force her to be a domestic slave?

Absolutely. There's just no way.

In that situation, where extended family members were starving/dying and other family had enough money to save them, then I believe 99% of people in Britain would give the money (or even lend on the promise of paying it back one day in the future). Not buy their young female relative for the purpose of sexual and domestic slavery.

RingoJuice · 22/05/2026 05:47

No, horrific abuses become normalized in many societies. In Afghanistan it’s not uncommon to accept a bride price for daughters, they will just get younger and younger as the fathers excuse the practice. But it would be unheard of elsewhere, the market wouldn’t exist.

Just reminded of a horrific case in South Africa where a mother sold her daughter (with unusually colored eyes) to ‘traditional medicine’ doctors. This is a very specific situation unique to parts of Africa, with preexisting markets for human parts. There are desperate people all over the globe, but where is it that selling your children to use for body parts happens?

mg.co.za/news/2025-03-17-joslin-smith-was-wanted-by-sangoma-for-her-eyes-and-skin/

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 07:07

RingoJuice · 22/05/2026 05:47

No, horrific abuses become normalized in many societies. In Afghanistan it’s not uncommon to accept a bride price for daughters, they will just get younger and younger as the fathers excuse the practice. But it would be unheard of elsewhere, the market wouldn’t exist.

Just reminded of a horrific case in South Africa where a mother sold her daughter (with unusually colored eyes) to ‘traditional medicine’ doctors. This is a very specific situation unique to parts of Africa, with preexisting markets for human parts. There are desperate people all over the globe, but where is it that selling your children to use for body parts happens?

mg.co.za/news/2025-03-17-joslin-smith-was-wanted-by-sangoma-for-her-eyes-and-skin/

Nice example of whataboutery there!
Yes that’s disgusting too and I’m glad I don’t belong to whatever African tribe is so benighted (because I’m fairly sure the family is not going to be called Botha or Pistorius)

Now, in what way does that make the Afghan custom of selling daughters as sex slaves any less horrifying?

RingoJuice · 22/05/2026 07:14

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 07:07

Nice example of whataboutery there!
Yes that’s disgusting too and I’m glad I don’t belong to whatever African tribe is so benighted (because I’m fairly sure the family is not going to be called Botha or Pistorius)

Now, in what way does that make the Afghan custom of selling daughters as sex slaves any less horrifying?

You misunderstand my point. Afghanistan is a place where fathers will sell their little girls into sex slavery. It would not happen in most other places on the globe because it’s not normal to sell your daughters into marriage. It just would not happen, we should not excuse them because ‘we might do it if we were in extreme poverty’ because no, we wouldn’t.

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 07:17

RingoJuice · 22/05/2026 07:14

You misunderstand my point. Afghanistan is a place where fathers will sell their little girls into sex slavery. It would not happen in most other places on the globe because it’s not normal to sell your daughters into marriage. It just would not happen, we should not excuse them because ‘we might do it if we were in extreme poverty’ because no, we wouldn’t.

Sorry then yes I absolutely agree with you. I’ve come to realise that not all cultures are equal - and both those examples are a good illustration of that!

(I misunderstood because the post above had made that point and you began with No, which seemed to be disagreeing. But on rereading it I see I got that wrong. Apologies!)

quantumbutterfly · 22/05/2026 08:46

RingoJuice · 22/05/2026 05:47

No, horrific abuses become normalized in many societies. In Afghanistan it’s not uncommon to accept a bride price for daughters, they will just get younger and younger as the fathers excuse the practice. But it would be unheard of elsewhere, the market wouldn’t exist.

Just reminded of a horrific case in South Africa where a mother sold her daughter (with unusually colored eyes) to ‘traditional medicine’ doctors. This is a very specific situation unique to parts of Africa, with preexisting markets for human parts. There are desperate people all over the globe, but where is it that selling your children to use for body parts happens?

mg.co.za/news/2025-03-17-joslin-smith-was-wanted-by-sangoma-for-her-eyes-and-skin/

I read that albinos are particularly at risk. It's almost as if humanity doesn't have a common set of values and they're enforced/agreed by the societies we live in.

quantumbutterfly · 22/05/2026 09:01

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 07:17

Sorry then yes I absolutely agree with you. I’ve come to realise that not all cultures are equal - and both those examples are a good illustration of that!

(I misunderstood because the post above had made that point and you began with No, which seemed to be disagreeing. But on rereading it I see I got that wrong. Apologies!)

Edited

Kemi Badenoch got called a racist for saying much the same thing during her leadership battle.

Borrowerdale · 22/05/2026 09:45

Coming back to the Afghanistan welcoming the Taliban instead of fighting - who would these men be fighting for? If they are willing to sell their daughters then they clearly aren’t going to be bothered to risk their life fighting for them.

charliehungerford · 22/05/2026 10:14

Schingsching · 19/05/2026 21:39

Child marriage is legal in several US states.

Abortion is illegal, even in cases of rape and incest and medical emergency, in the US in almost every state and jurisdiction.

HTH with your hypocrisy only posting about mass human rights violations in other shit hole countries such as Afghanistan.

Edited

That’s not correct, Abortion is illegal in six states, and there are limits in some other states on the length of the pregnancy, so often it’s not permitted beyond six weeks, but in just under half of the US states abortion is accessible up to 22/24 weeks.

1dayatatime · 22/05/2026 10:18

quantumbutterfly · 22/05/2026 09:01

Kemi Badenoch got called a racist for saying much the same thing during her leadership battle.

Exactly - maybe we should all be more culturally aware and accepting of different cultural practices such as selling young daughters into sexual slavery and even honour killings - after all "diversity is our strength " (although no one has ever managed to properly explain that one to me).

1dayatatime · 22/05/2026 10:21

Borrowerdale · 22/05/2026 09:45

Coming back to the Afghanistan welcoming the Taliban instead of fighting - who would these men be fighting for? If they are willing to sell their daughters then they clearly aren’t going to be bothered to risk their life fighting for them.

There is a great quote that "the only thing Afghans like more than fighting each other is fighting outsiders in Afghanistan ".

The whole place should be labelled "here be dragons " on maps and stay way away from it.

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 10:36

1dayatatime · 22/05/2026 10:21

There is a great quote that "the only thing Afghans like more than fighting each other is fighting outsiders in Afghanistan ".

The whole place should be labelled "here be dragons " on maps and stay way away from it.

I was against the US/Allied invasion of Afghanistan at the" time, but since they did do it anyway, I have to admit they then stayed 20 years trying to make the place into a half decent democracy - and failed. Because, presumably, not enough Afghans wanted a democracy where women had rights and warlords didn't get to dictate their wishes to the rest of society.

So I don't really know what else the west can do - but I do know that we need to be very very careful about which Afghan males we allow into the west. Even some of those who worked with the British or Americans have launched attacks here so that fact alone is not proof that they've bought into our values. Maybe they just wanted a well paid job.

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 22/05/2026 11:31

Yes there comes a point where you become so open minded your brains fall out. There are some things that we need to be extra cautious about when it comes to allowing people asylum here when they come from places where women are treated so horrifically, and so many have not only stood by and watched but cheered them on. We are at risk of losing our freedoms if we tolerate the intolerant.

FrankieMcGrath · 22/05/2026 11:48

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 22/05/2026 11:31

Yes there comes a point where you become so open minded your brains fall out. There are some things that we need to be extra cautious about when it comes to allowing people asylum here when they come from places where women are treated so horrifically, and so many have not only stood by and watched but cheered them on. We are at risk of losing our freedoms if we tolerate the intolerant.

This!

Borrowerdale · 22/05/2026 12:07

quantumbutterfly · 22/05/2026 09:01

Kemi Badenoch got called a racist for saying much the same thing during her leadership battle.

Why, if all cultures are equal as so many woke leftists proclaim, are we accepting ANY asylum seekers? Surely if their cultural practices are equal to ours then they should be sent back to the enjoy whatever cultural practices their country wishes to bestow on them?

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 22/05/2026 12:59

I was against the US/Allied invasion of Afghanistan at the" time, but since they did do it anyway, I have to admit they then stayed 20 years trying to make the place into a half decent democracy - and failed. Because, presumably, not enough Afghans wanted a democracy where women had rights and warlords didn't get to dictate their wishes to the rest of society

It's yet more proof you can not forcibly Democratise a place that isn't ready to enthusiastically grasp Democracy, and especially not if all you actually do is boot out the incumbent government, install a puppet, and call it job done.

Small example - both the US and the USSR were determined to stamp out the poppy farming. The problem is, they gave the farmers absolutely no alternative means of making a living. They tried corn and sugar cane, but neither is particularly easy to farm in Afghanistan, and the cost of trying to get the raw product sold on international markets made it a pointless venture in any case. Net result, farmers concerned with actually having money to feed their families enthusiastically welcomed the Taliban back, not because they are big fans of the Taliban, but because the Taliban didn't douse their poppy crop with chemical defoliants from the air, the net result being the farmers were able to produce a crop and feed their families as a result.

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 13:30

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 22/05/2026 12:59

I was against the US/Allied invasion of Afghanistan at the" time, but since they did do it anyway, I have to admit they then stayed 20 years trying to make the place into a half decent democracy - and failed. Because, presumably, not enough Afghans wanted a democracy where women had rights and warlords didn't get to dictate their wishes to the rest of society

It's yet more proof you can not forcibly Democratise a place that isn't ready to enthusiastically grasp Democracy, and especially not if all you actually do is boot out the incumbent government, install a puppet, and call it job done.

Small example - both the US and the USSR were determined to stamp out the poppy farming. The problem is, they gave the farmers absolutely no alternative means of making a living. They tried corn and sugar cane, but neither is particularly easy to farm in Afghanistan, and the cost of trying to get the raw product sold on international markets made it a pointless venture in any case. Net result, farmers concerned with actually having money to feed their families enthusiastically welcomed the Taliban back, not because they are big fans of the Taliban, but because the Taliban didn't douse their poppy crop with chemical defoliants from the air, the net result being the farmers were able to produce a crop and feed their families as a result.

I take your general point, but what alternative could they have provided? It seems they did try but the alternatives just weren't as profitable. We wouldn't think that to be an acceptable defence for a struggling farm in Wales or Scotland giving over its land for drug use, would we? And yet there are plenty of struggling farms and over-indebted farmers.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 22/05/2026 14:16

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 13:30

I take your general point, but what alternative could they have provided? It seems they did try but the alternatives just weren't as profitable. We wouldn't think that to be an acceptable defence for a struggling farm in Wales or Scotland giving over its land for drug use, would we? And yet there are plenty of struggling farms and over-indebted farmers.

Right, but Scotland and Wales are already Democracies.

A similar scenario would be Scotland or Wales being run by a Theocracy or on a feudal basis, and the farms being profitable and the farmers content, then along comes the US and installs a puppet government in London which subsequently gerrymanders the elections, the farms are rendered inviable, and the farmers and their families starve due to a lack of any alternative means of earning a crust. Do you think the Scottish and Welsh farmers are going to be big fans of democracy under those circumstances?

It's not as if people in the UK are above reacting to governments and entities who threaten their livelihoods. There are plenty of historical rebellions and riots to point to, and as little as 40 years ago pitched battles between miners and the police.

The jist is, the democratisation of Afghanistan was never going to be a success because Afghanistan simply wasn't ready to be democratised, but more than that, the US never tackled the fundamental problem of 85% of the country still being entirely beyond the control of centralised government. The apparent "liberty" in major cities was never anything other than an illusion, because it was only that way due to massive US logistical support, and the fact the Taliban couldn't forcibly remove the US and foreign militaries from their encampments.

Once the foreign militaries left, there was absolutely nothing to prevent the Taliban rolling in and restoring the situation pre-2002. As already covered, the Afghan Military was nothing but a notional "on paper" entity that didn't actually exist as a legitimate fighting force, and even if it had, it still stood no chance at all due to beginning from a position which was already futile. The US maintained it's military presence only courtesy of it's ability to supply itself by air. How is the Afghan military going to supply itself? Where are they going to go when they have to cede territory due to a lack of cohesion, no command structure, and no logistical support? They can't just retreat to the next nearest town, because they are surrounded on all sides due to the fact the US never bothered to secure any territory beyond the limits of the towns, cities, and bases they could defend with relative ease.

The US's one real success in terms of forcible Democratisation is Japan, but that involved 7 years of occupation and military rule, a further 15 years or so of "soft" occupation, immersing Japan almost entirely in US culture to the point whereby Democracy was almost taken for granted as the norm, and Japan had, for decades prior, been desperate to industrialise and modernise itself in any case, so it was absolutely ripe for development into the nation which emerged in the 1960s. Afghanistan is in no way similar, and neither was the US effort in that State over the past 20 years. Personally, I think that it was always apparent to the US they had got themselves involved in a futile proposition and it was just a case of who had the gumption to rip the sticking plaster off.

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 14:48

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 22/05/2026 14:16

Right, but Scotland and Wales are already Democracies.

A similar scenario would be Scotland or Wales being run by a Theocracy or on a feudal basis, and the farms being profitable and the farmers content, then along comes the US and installs a puppet government in London which subsequently gerrymanders the elections, the farms are rendered inviable, and the farmers and their families starve due to a lack of any alternative means of earning a crust. Do you think the Scottish and Welsh farmers are going to be big fans of democracy under those circumstances?

It's not as if people in the UK are above reacting to governments and entities who threaten their livelihoods. There are plenty of historical rebellions and riots to point to, and as little as 40 years ago pitched battles between miners and the police.

The jist is, the democratisation of Afghanistan was never going to be a success because Afghanistan simply wasn't ready to be democratised, but more than that, the US never tackled the fundamental problem of 85% of the country still being entirely beyond the control of centralised government. The apparent "liberty" in major cities was never anything other than an illusion, because it was only that way due to massive US logistical support, and the fact the Taliban couldn't forcibly remove the US and foreign militaries from their encampments.

Once the foreign militaries left, there was absolutely nothing to prevent the Taliban rolling in and restoring the situation pre-2002. As already covered, the Afghan Military was nothing but a notional "on paper" entity that didn't actually exist as a legitimate fighting force, and even if it had, it still stood no chance at all due to beginning from a position which was already futile. The US maintained it's military presence only courtesy of it's ability to supply itself by air. How is the Afghan military going to supply itself? Where are they going to go when they have to cede territory due to a lack of cohesion, no command structure, and no logistical support? They can't just retreat to the next nearest town, because they are surrounded on all sides due to the fact the US never bothered to secure any territory beyond the limits of the towns, cities, and bases they could defend with relative ease.

The US's one real success in terms of forcible Democratisation is Japan, but that involved 7 years of occupation and military rule, a further 15 years or so of "soft" occupation, immersing Japan almost entirely in US culture to the point whereby Democracy was almost taken for granted as the norm, and Japan had, for decades prior, been desperate to industrialise and modernise itself in any case, so it was absolutely ripe for development into the nation which emerged in the 1960s. Afghanistan is in no way similar, and neither was the US effort in that State over the past 20 years. Personally, I think that it was always apparent to the US they had got themselves involved in a futile proposition and it was just a case of who had the gumption to rip the sticking plaster off.

That's an oversimplified version though: Afghanistan under the Taliban 1.0 regime was no land of milk and honey: I'm pretty sure the farmers weren't really that well off: there were multiple conflicts with land being taken and lost by different groups, not to mention human rights abuses generally. Women were of course being stoned for various misdemeanours but so to some extent were men. The allies provided schools and hospitals - that could have been a plus side, had they cared about their children's health and futures.

Moreover I remember it being reported that the Taliban at that time had a policy of stopping opium farming and that it was actually the chaos and loss of local control after the Taliban were ousted that allowed farmers to go back to the most profitable crop they could grow, opium.

So I don't think it's just because it was a binary choice between "starving + US allies" vs "Taliban + making a decent living". They just don't really want democracy and are happy enough with an islamist regime. The men are anyway.

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 14:49

Also, @XDownwiththissortofthingX Japan is not the only successful example. South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan are also examples, as well as Germany of course.

Gealach · 22/05/2026 15:58

Emilesgran · 22/05/2026 14:48

That's an oversimplified version though: Afghanistan under the Taliban 1.0 regime was no land of milk and honey: I'm pretty sure the farmers weren't really that well off: there were multiple conflicts with land being taken and lost by different groups, not to mention human rights abuses generally. Women were of course being stoned for various misdemeanours but so to some extent were men. The allies provided schools and hospitals - that could have been a plus side, had they cared about their children's health and futures.

Moreover I remember it being reported that the Taliban at that time had a policy of stopping opium farming and that it was actually the chaos and loss of local control after the Taliban were ousted that allowed farmers to go back to the most profitable crop they could grow, opium.

So I don't think it's just because it was a binary choice between "starving + US allies" vs "Taliban + making a decent living". They just don't really want democracy and are happy enough with an islamist regime. The men are anyway.

There is a whole report on this. And people not wanting democracy doesn’t feature it in.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-S-PURL-gpo220710/pdf/GOVPUB-S-PURL-gpo220710.pdf

Auroraloves · 22/05/2026 16:53

Why can’t on the women come across instead of all the men?

1dayatatime · 22/05/2026 18:00

This is what happens when Afghan men bring their culture to the UK;

Diversity is our strength???

Seven Afghan men charged over child sexual exploitation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e2wzpe7xjo

Police officer in tactical gear breaking a door down using a battering ram tool. There are other officers nearby. Their faces have been blurred,

Seven Afghan men charged over child sexual exploitation

The men are charged with 40 offences as part of an investigation into group-based child exploitation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e2wzpe7xjo