Any doubts about Afghanistan's fragility have been put to rest in recent weeks. Reports that copies of the Quran were inadvertently burned at a coalition military base unleashed a spasm of violence, ranging from mass demonstrations to murder. It has torn apart already strained relations between Afghans and the coalition forces which are trying to restore peace and stability to that country. The key question now — the answer to which is still unknowable — is whether a partnership can be reforged.
The relationship between the coalition forces and the Afghan government and people has never been strong. While many Afghans welcomed the removal of the Taliban government in the wake of U.S.-led invasion, the Kabul government's inability to restore order throughout the country, and the corruption and incompetence that have characterized its performance have alienated ever-increasing segments of the population. Periodic incidents have put the match to the tinder of public dissatisfaction.
Last month, it was reported that copies of the Quran had been burned at a military detention center in Afghanistan. Reportedly, officials at the facility worried that the religious texts were among papers removed from the detention center's library after they had been used by detainees to communicate messages. Afghan workers rescued the books from the incinerator and smuggled them off base. News that the books were being burned — it is not clear if workers knew the Quran was among the documents being incinerated — triggered a series of protests across the country.