Friday’s murderous Taleban assault on an army base in Balkh province has sent ripples of shock.
The base is home to the army’s 209th Corp, and soldiers dispersing after prayers at the mosque were gunned down mercilessly by 10 or so fighters in military uniforms who sneaked past two security checkpoints before they were stopped.
Defence Minister General Abdullah Habibi and the army chief General Qadam Shah Shahim resigned on Monday as the government faced mounting pressure over the attack that killed more than 160 soldiers.
Some observers see the current dangerous security situation as a result of a “shared government”, where no one takes responsibility, including the leaders.
Political analyst General Zalmay Wardak says, “The shared government and dishonesty of the international community are two main factors of instability in the country. Security cannot be ensured.”
Inevitably authorities in high positions handling security are being blamed, and many Afghan people rue the trust given them as an “unforgivable tyranny”.
Aref Rahmani, lawmaker from Ghazni says, “Those who have given the vote of trust to the security authorities are to be blamed for the criminal act of carelessness that enabled 10 terrorists to enter the Shahin army base, and carry out this cruel massacre.”
Without doubt the Friday sneak attack was a serious breach of intelligence gathering. Apart from the two resignations – seen as necessary to appease widespread anger at the deadliest single attack by Taleban in the long war against Afghan security forces, there are demands that heads must roll also in the National Directorate of Security. How come the Taleban attackers even though disguised in Afghan army uniforms sneaked into the heavily guarded base?
Says a soldier, a survivor of the massacre who did not want to be identified, “Whenever we’re going on vacation or returning we are searched many times. So how come two military ranger vehicles with 10 people entered the base? This shows the apathy of intelligence authorities.”
Zaki Karimi, a lecturer in Khatamunabieen private university says, “The resignation of minister of defence and chief of army staff is not enough. We have to clear out the political lobbies of ISIS and Taliban from government and security structures.”
