The value of Afghan lives

AS THE high-profile case of Najibullah Zazi, the Afghan American terror suspect, heats up, several Afghan community members in New York and I have been approached by media outlets to share our thoughts, feelings and opinions about the case.

On behalf of my community, I would like to say that this case is producing fear and terror in our community. This case and its portrayal in the media is psychologically impacting our community in a negative way. Igniting fear in a community is also a form of terrorizing.

I just wanted to add that anyone who is guilty for a crime should be held accountable. However, we do not know if Zazi and his alleged accomplices are guilty. What worries me the most is what this is doing to the people of my community--instilling fear and terror in them. No one should have to live with fear. Stories like this one should not allow the American public to think it is okay to bomb Afghanistan.

I do not think Afghanistan should be forgotten as it was after the Russian invasion. I definitely think Afghanistan needs support from the international community, the UN, NATO and the U.S. to help stabilize it and bring it security and help with reconstruction. However, I think the international forces that are present in Afghanistan need to be more careful with their rocket attacks and bombs so that innocent Afghan civilians and U.S. and international troops are not killed.

The killing and terrorizing of innocent people bothers me the most. The world needs to start viewing an Afghan life as just as important as any other human life.
Afifa Yusufi, New York City