Afghanistan, the World's 7th Fragile State

Afghanistan is declared as the seventh failed state in terms of good governance by the Fund for Peace (FFP) organization.

FFP--an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit research and educational organization-- works to prevent violent conflict and promote sustainable security in the world. The organization has issued a new index of the world's most fragile states, with South Sudan topping the list and Afghanistan taking the seventh place.

The organization assesses countries in terms of human rights, external interference, government credibility, social services, capabilities of security institutions and religious wars. FFP has stated that despite massive international investments, Afghanistan still constitutes as the world's most unstable country. The report discusses administrative corruption, drug smuggling and extremism as the biggest challenges in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan was on the same category during the previous year's report. According to the report, there has been no visible, drastic change in the lives of the people and good governance still does not exist in the country.

"I think in the wake of international aid reductions as well as the process of security and political transition, it is good news that Afghanistan has maintained its previous position," political expert Mohammad Qasim Wafayee said.

The report indicates that since last year, the number of refugees and internally displaced migrants have increased and poverty and the scale of unemployment have risen. Furthermore, it claims that the government has failed in proper distribution of social services. FFP also stresses that efforts in the human rights sector need to increase.

Some Afghan analysts have confirmed FFP's assessments.

"It is clear that there has been no change in the situation in the country," University lecturer Baryali Fitrat said. "Insecurity has undermined investments, people's economic condition has worsened, billions of dollars of international aid has been wasted, corruption has increased, and the reconstruction process has not been accelerated."

Afghanistan's two neighbors, Iran and Pakistan, have taken the 44th and 10th places respectively.