The evacuation of Afghans who worked with UK, US and Nato countries after the collapse of Kabul to the Taliban was a historic disgrace both for Afghanistan and the international community.
Both the UK and US did not prepare properly to avoid the utter chaos that ensued and it showed how much Afghans hated the Taliban, that they were even prepared to risk their life climbing on the aircraft rather than live under their rule.
We have terrible memories from their previous regime and yet the group is proving it has not changed.
They are a single-minded authoritarian, extremist group and their government tramples on the rights of ethnic minorities and refuses to share power.
Now, sadly I believe the plight of Afghans, both in the UK and back home, has taken a backseat as the war in Ukraine has been given priority by the international community, which has forgotten Afghanistan.
It is of course terrible that Russia invaded Ukraine, but the Taliban has also trampled the values of 35 million people by occupying Afghanistan. And while thousands of Afghans were evacuated by the UK and US, it does not mean that those who are at risk of being targeted by the Taliban were evacuated.
Many of those eligible are left behind in Afghanistan, and that includes labourers.
Unfortunately, there is a view that Afghanistan is a matter for Afghans themselves whereas Ukraine is an international concern.
This shows that the world, especially the US, has displayed political double standards.
The Taliban gained success in Kabul and took power as the result of the Doha agreement signed by the Trump administration then later implemented by Joe Biden.
The world has abandoned Afghans and have forgotten the two decades of sacrifices Afghans made for democracy, and Western values.
Unlike Ukrainians, when it comes to their treatment in the UK, Afghans are having major problems, such as housing and issues of resettlement.
Finding suitable housing is difficult for Afghans but it is up to the government to find a solution to help this category of people.
The UK government could offer Afghans the same scheme offered to Ukrainians in order for them to find suitable housing and feel part on the community in the UK.
Many Afghans who arrived in the UK are suffering from psychological and psychiatric problems due to their uncertain future. Yet so far Rishi Sunak is following Conservative Party policy towards Afghans and Afghanistan.
He hasn’t had any creative plans for Afghan interpreters and refugees, lacks a proactive policy and hasn’t had anything outstanding on Afghanistan and the Taliban.
Mr Sunak is busy on Ukraine and election campaigns but must show seriousness and assertiveness.
As the Prime Minister of a country at the heart of global affairs, he must bring pressure on Taliban to respect democracy and human rights, in particular those of women.
Yet the UK’s policy towards Afghanistan helps the Taliban regime strengthen further.
Afghans expect more from the UK due to the historic relationship between the two countries.
The UK could do a lot more in Afghanistan, based on its knowledge and understanding of that part of the world.
Britain must use its influence through Pakistan, India and Qatar to make life better in Afghanistan before its descent into chaos causes problems in the region and even the wider world.
Experience has proved that negligence can result in war in Afghanistan and destabilisation of the region and the world. Afghanistan is in deep economical and humanitarian crisis, and the situation is deteriorating every day, which Human Rights Watch says must take Afghanistan seriously.
The UK must stand against the Taliban’s harsh treatment of ethnic minorities and former government officials.
While this might not seem like an immediate problem it will have dangerous consequences for the region and wider world.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
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In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
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