Taleban-triggered violence has spiraled in the last few weeks. A suicide bomber pierced security rings around the Kabul Police headquarters and killed the police chief’s manager.
Taleban-triggered violence has spiraled in the last few weeks. A suicide bomber pierced security rings around the Kabul Police headquarters and killed the police chief’s manager. The very next day in Logar, six local policemen including a commander, and a civilian were killed in a suicide attack. Does the worsening security situation have anything to do with the exit of foreign combat troops by year-end?
According to defence analysts, Taleban and other groups opposed to the government took advantage of the vacuum in leadership in Kabul before the national unity government was sworn-in. The new government’s decision to ink the pact with the US on bilateral security arrangements starting from January 2015 only served to “irritate” them further, and they retaliated by upping the ante to show what they are capable of, experts add.
There is concern that unless the Ashraf Ghani government takes decisive action to halt the Taleban march it could lose people’s confidence about tackling insecurity.
Local people in the conflict-scarred north and other provinces have warned some districts could fall to the Taleban if security is not immediately tightened.
The president has sought the assistance of countries in the region including China, and the Gulf to restore peace in Afghanistan. China has indicated a delegation would first visit Islamabad and then come to Kabul. Dr Ashraf Ghani has announced he would be visiting Pakistan sometime soon.
Under pressure
Taleban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahed was reported saying in the media that the new wave of attacks is intended to put pressure on the new government. Also there has been a change in war tactics and the Taleban are seeking to weaken the machine of the state by targeting big cities particularly Kabul. There has been an increase in the number of attacks on the Afghan capital over the last one month. A suicide attack on Nov 9 on the police headquarters was followed up by another a day later on the Burhanuddin Education University in Kabul’s 5th District. Three people were wounded.
Lt General Murad Ali Murad, the commander of the ground forces, was of the opinion the Taleban have launched attacks on cities to show the government and international community that they are still a “force to be reckoned with”.
Waheed Muzhda, a political affairs expert, described it as an attempt to show their disapproval of the new government and its decision to sign the BSA. In his opinion most attacks were by ordinary people who were “paid” to do so by the Taleban and the government’s opponents. But he did not give evidence.
Javed Kohistani, another political and defence commentator, also suspects the involvement of elements within the police and government in assisting suicide attacks and bombings. Without help the Taleban cannot have breached tight security in Kabul’s high security areas in the early November attacks, he feels.
Insecurity grows
As roadside bombs and suicide attacks on the capital intensify security concerns are growing among ordinary people. The city is densely populated and fatalities would be high, people feel.
Siddiq Ahmad Osmani, deputy speaker of the lower house, said it was “shameful” the Taleban attacked the police compound in Wardoj district, Badakshan, and captured nearly 50 policemen at the end of October. While roughly 20 were released a few days later, the rest are still in custody, according to Badakshan member of parliament, Abdul Rauf Enami. The Taleban have threatened to kill 12 who are arbakees, tribal militia who were enlisted into the Afghan Local Police. Najib Danesh, the deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Affairs said efforts were underway to secure the release of the abducted soldiers.
On Nov 10, the Taleban launched suicide attacks in Logar and Nangarhar provinces. Mohammad Husain Mashreqiwal, the spokesperson of Nangarhar Police, said the Taleban targeted a police vehicle, instantly killing three policemen and wounding four others. On the same day the attack on the Logar police headquarters killed six police including a commander and one civilian.
On Oct 26, a group of suicide bombers attacked and raided the attorney general’s office in Kunduz city, killing eight people and wounding 10 others. In another attack policemen were killed in Herat’s Sheendand district. On Sep 29, the day President Ashraf Ghani was being sworn in, Taleban suicide bombers attacked the headquarters of the local government in Paktia’s Zurmat district, killing at least eight people including four police officers, and three of the fighters. Hours after the oath taking at least four civilians were killed in a suicide attack near Kabul’s airport. Roughly 9,000 Afghan forces have been killed in Taleban-orchestrated attacks and fighting over the last two years.
The level of Taleban-triggered violence has ratcheted upwards as foreign troops exit the country. ISAF forces have mostly withdrawn from the country’s east and south, and handed over bases to Afghan security forces.
Afghan Defence Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi is hopeful the security situation would improve in the new year with the implementation of the BSA. NATO has promised to provide more than 5 billion USD annually to train and equip the security forces, he said.
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