The government has been able to build national and international consensus on how to deal with the Taleban.
Last week, President Ashraf Ghani was among Afghan leaders who applauded the recent stability and strength by the military.
The government has been able to build national and international consensus on how to deal with the Taleban.
Last week, President Ashraf Ghani was among Afghan leaders who applauded the recent stability and strength by the military.
The good news came after months of daily violence and widening conflict with attacks reported from across the country.
Commenting on the anti-Taleban operations by special forces, Sidiq Sidiqi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior Affairs said, “We did not have the same achievement last year … This year, they (security forces) had mission (purpose), information, training and (they) targeted the leaders of Taleban. It does not mean they were killed but they were targeted.”
The Taleban threat has scaled down from 70 percent of districts to 40 percent.
General Bismillah Waziri, commander of special forces unit in the Afghan National Army (ANA), praised his troops for recent gains in Nangarhar, Helmand and Kunduz.
Some 451 attacks were made between January and May this year compared to 189 in 2015. Locals in Uruzgan confirm the Taleban launched the most attacks last year, but now the government has more areas under its control due to close air-land cooperation between US aircraft and Afghan commandos.
Yet in Helmand the number of attacks increased, and also the losses.
Meanwhile in Kunar, according to police commander Habib Sayed Khili, some 7,000 insurgents, linked to 11 different groups, are facing air strikes.
People fear if pressure is put on the Taleban in the rural areas with air strikes, they may retaliate with attacks in Kabul and other urban areas. There is a crying need to train and equip the Afghan army.
While on a recent visit to soldiers in Nangarhar, President Ghani promised “best” equipment and support to the 350,000 force.
Aplomb and vision
US General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, believes the “aggressive” strategy was paying off. After visiting officials in the Afghan government, he announced last week, “While (earlier) the Afghans were unsure about their future, now their aplomb and vision have increased.” He went on to add, “I had not seen this level of optimism in Afghanistan previously.”
Warning “there is serious work to be done”, the general said, “Our pressure on the battle field and support for Afghan forces would be maintained and continue till we make sure the Afghan government is standing on its own feet.”
Experts have also praised the “decisive policy against armed opponents”. Senator Lailuma Ahmadi observed, “Serious encounters with those who are against order and are enemies of Afghanistan are the need. We hope President Ghani will not hesitate to implement what he has been told.”
The government’s clearly identifying friends and enemies has been well received by Senators and analysts who have praised the president. Bashir Bezhan, a political expert believes, “The government’s clear stand will strengthen the morale of Afghan soldiers in the battlefield and weaken the armed opponents of the government.”
There is also no ambiguity on the issue of dialogue with Pakistan. Mohammad Ali Rezwani, analyst and editor in chief of weekly Eqtedar Milli (national power) believes, “The government’s use of mildness towards Pakistan remained ineffective as the Taleban continued violence so government leaders took a serious and decisive stance against Pakistan.” Now there is harmony among Afghan political leaders and supporters of the country. The signs were seen at the recent Warsaw meeting on Afghanistan, says Asghar Eshraq, analyst and chief editor of the daily, Rah e Madaniat (way of civilization). The government has been able to build national and international consensus.
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