There is no end to the ongoing bloodshed in Afghanistan as Kabul was rattled by a series of attacks during the last three days. On Monday, two blasts targeted the defence ministry that killed 35 people and wounded over 100. Later, three gunmen forced entry into the compound of a building, which was being used by a humanitarian organisation (Care). Security forces in Afghanistan retaliated, and shot dead all the attackers after an 11-hour standoff. Taliban terrorists have claimed responsibility for the first two bomb blasts, which also killed an army general and a top police officer.
In recent months, Taliban have stepped up their attacks in rural areas, capturing new territory and carrying out bombings in Kabul. Security in Afghanistan has steadily declined since the US-led international coalition withdrew most of its troops from the country in 2014, leaving Afghan forces to fight mostly on their own. Taliban’s ability to conduct coordinated deadly attacks in Kabul has also increased pressure on Ghani’s government, which has been struggling to reassure the population that it can guarantee security.
Recently, there have been other deadly incidents that claimed dozens of lives in Afghanistan. About two weeks ago, fighters attacked the American University in Kabul, killing 13 people. On July 23 this year, at least 80 people were killed by a suicide bomber who targeted a demonstration in an attack claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group. Outside Kabul, fighters have stepped up their military campaign, threatening Lashkar Gah, capital of the strategic southern province of Helmand, as well as Kunduz, the northern city they briefly took last year.
The offensive launched by the Taliban is a cause for concern. Reportedly, factions of Taliban are getting united under their new leader Maulvi Akhunzada, while the situation is beleaguered regarding coalition forces’ unity that have failed to deter the onslaught by Taliban. On different occasions, the Afghan government has tried to absolve itself of all responsibility by putting the blame on Pakistan. Nevertheless, while Pakistan may have used Taliban in the past, but it has paid a heavy price for this adventurism, and is no more relying on Taliban for a ‘proxy war’. It is a reality that Taliban are not ready to abandon violence and continue to wreak havoc in the war-torn country. During the spring offensive launched by Taliban, thousands of civilians die each year. A record number of civilian causalities have been reported this year too.
Now there is a scenario where the Taliban leaders have announced that they would increase their intensity of attacks to derail any dialogue process. Given this scenario, Pakistan’s much vaunted influence over the Taliban, upon which the hope for the resumption of the peace process is reliant, seems increasingly doubtful. But even when all pessimistic prognoses are made, talks/dialogue remain the only viable solution for the problem of the Afghan insurgency. The process, no matter how fraught or uncertain, must be persisted with for the sake of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the entire region. The only alternative is continuation of war, which is not affordable in any scenario
http://dailytimes.com.pk/editorial/08-Sep-16/bloodshed-in-kabul
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