The West must support Afghan civil society after a “heartbreaking” withdrawal

The West must help Afghan society defend social progress in overcoming a “heartbreaking” retreat with a “devastating” effect on the image of the United States and its allies, says Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary general of the intergovernmental organization IDEA International.

“Supporting civil society at the moment is the only way to do something that contributes in the long run to creating a slightly more open society, more committed to the rights of all people,” Casas-Zamora told Efe in a t...