In a recent interview, Afghanistan’s top human rights expert, Sima Samar, has voiced her disappointment at the lack of progress in Afghanistan,  nine years on from the Taliban and promises that the long road ahead will be a difficult journey.

As the United States unveils more concrete plans to end combat operations by 2014, Samar, the head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, says she is looking for a different type of commitment from the international community.

During a recent visit to Berlin, Samar voiced her concerns about the temptation to plough ahead without a clear objective, adding, ‘For me the number of troops is not important. A workable strategy is more important.’

Later this week, a NATO summit in Lisbon will try to agree on a roadmap for a troop wind-down.

However for Samar, the priority should rest with finding long-term commitment from the international powers to help Afghanistan lift itself out of poverty and steer it onto the road towards better education and greater freedoms.

For her the plan is straightforward, yet monstrously difficult: make sure people, and especially women, put up a fight for their basic rights.

According to Samar: ’Women need self confidence to stand up for their rights. I did not give in to (any) pressures because I have confidence,’

For more on this interview, visit monstersandcritics.com.