Few people, whatever their racial or religious background, can have failed to be touched by the plight of the Afghan people over the past few years. A long spell of Taliban rule took their country back to the Dark Ages. Then, to free them from that oppressive regime and in the international war against terrorism, they had to endure heavy bombing which, though it concentrated on military and strategic targets, inevitably did not leave the civilian population unscathed.

Afghanistan is now virtually in ruins. There is a massive rebuilding job to be done if the people of that ravaged land are to have restored to them a quality of life which allows them to enjoy even the basics. Their drought-stricken territory needs to be irrigated. Their schools need to be rebuilt so a new generation can be educated to steer Afghanistan to a better future.

The help which will be given towards those goals through the Bradford Afghan Appeal will no doubt be greatly welcomed. However, it is not only Afghanistan which should gain from the appeal's work.

Bradford, too, needs help in pulling together a population which was divided by the riots of last July. The goodwill which exists between members of the different racial groups, the ordinary Bradfordians who appreciate the need for us all to get on together, was severely tested by the actions of a lawless minority.

The healing process should be eased on its way by this joint appeal by Christians and Muslims, providing a common cause behind which the people of Bradford can unite.