WOMEN AND PUBLIC-POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN - COMMENT

Policies to assist Afghan women are an important subject for discussio n. An article in World Development (Moghadam, Valentine, M., ''Buildin g human resources and women's capabilities in Afghanistan: A retrospec t and prospects,'' World Development, Vol. 22, No. 6 (1994), pp. 859-8 75) addresses this subject, but gives an inadequate account of the his torical context within which policies must be devised. Memories of the terroristic means used by communist regimes during 1978-92 to impose ''reforms'' upon an unreceptive society remain a significant barrier t o the expansion of women's opportunities. It is counterproductive to a buse or threaten the new Afghan rulers: a carefully executed process o f consultation with established powerholders is required if enlightene d policies for Afghan women are to be implemented.