Kabul (dpa) – Violent protests in Afghanistan over the burning of copies of the Qu'ran by US soldiers have made foreigners living in the conservative country even more concerned about their safety. “I go out but in the past couple days, there has been few instances where people have made anti-Western comments loud enough that I could hear,” said an Australian aid worker shopping at the Finest, a supermarket in Kabul frequented by Westerners. The worker, who declined to be named, said since the deadly protests erupted a week ago she has been sensing “hostility.” Even Afghans say their Western colleagues have become more reclusive and reluctant to talk. “For a week now, I feel some level of fear and frustration among the Western colleagues,” said Mustafa. “I work with a few of them and they used to share all their gossip and information. Now, they don't.” The burning of Qu'rans by US soldiers at an air base last week sparked violent protests in many Afghan cities. Angry protesters targeted a US consulate, a United Nations office and several bases of the NATO-led military alliance. In the northern city of Taloqan, German soldiers quit their base because of the protests. Afghan soldiers killed two US soldiers during a protest. Two senior US army officers were shot dead inside the heavily fortified Interior Ministry on Saturday. An Afghan intelligence officer on the run is the main suspect. Analysts say the violence marks an all-time low in the relationship between the Afghan government and its Western allies. Western countries have pulled their military and civilian advisers from government offices and ministries. The UN asked its staff to stay home. “It's about trust and I think it has been breached,” said a consultant with the UN Development Program (UNDP), who declined to be named. An official with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said foreign staff have been told to leave home only when necessary. “Only essential movement will be made,” said UNAMA spokeswoman Denise Jeanmonod. “We have to report when we leave the place and let the security knows. Most of the UN staffs are continuing their work with government agencies but it's a case by case of course.” Afghan police shot dead five people in the northern city of Kunduz on Saturday after angry demonstrators attacked a UNAMA office there. Many aid agencies and embassies have temporarily halted operations. “Those travel restrictions are limiting people, particularly those who are working with Afghan offices,” Gavin Sundwall, the spokesman for the US embassy in Kabul told dpa. “Since the unhappiness at the moment is directed towards the US, people need to be aware that they take extra precautions so that they do not fall victim to any unfortunate event,” Sundwall said. An employee at an American non-governmental organization that halted its operations after the protests said: “The lock-down following the reports of the Koran burning was expected. But the incident at the Ministry of Interior has made people more nervous as it shows that no one really is safe.” The violence could hasten the exit of foreign troops currently set for 2014 and leave the Afghan government alone in dealing with Taliban insurgents. Waheed Muzhda, a Taliban turned political analyst, said serious trust deficit and lack of confidence is hurting Afghans-West relationship. “What every Westerner should know is that there is no difference between an Afghan policeman or a soldier or a Taliban fighter,” said Waheed Muzhda, a political analyst. “All grew up in this country and in this culture and if their faith is insulted, they will have an issue.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/i6u50 Tags: Afghanistan, Burning, Fear, Foreigners, Qur'an Section: Asia, Features, Religion
