It is the responsibility of a government within a state to ensure peace and security of its citizens. However, the governments that suffer from administrative incapacities fail to guarantee security. And in such states the weaker strata of the society tend to suffer the most. Women, ethnic and religious minorities and the common people as a whole undergo anguish as a result. Afghanistan is also one of the countries where the government has not been able to provide enough security to its people and the common people face different sorts of problems every day.

Last week, around 31 Hazara passengers were abducted by unknown masked men on Kabul-Kandahar highway. The incident took place in Shah Joy district of southern Zabul province wherein the armed men drove away 31 passengers to Khak Afghan district after identifying them to be Hazara men. Since then there has not been any report about the fate and whereabouts of the poor abducted passengers.

This clearly shows the level of insecurity in the country. Some armed men stop passenger vehicles, identify certain people and take them to some unknown place without any difficulty. And the most unfortunate fact is that there are no confirmed reports about who abducted them and where they are at the moment.

There have been different claims by different authorities since the incident took place. In the beginning there were claims that members of Daish have abducted them as they have started getting stronger in certain parts of the country. However, afterwards there have been claims that Taliban and Al-Qaeda are responsible for the incident. The acting governor of Zabul – Mohammad Ashraf Nasiri had blamed the local Taliban, along with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant outfit and the Chechens. On the other hands Zabul negotiators claim that the passengers have been abducted by armed robbers. Though none of the groups has claimed responsibility, none of them can escape blame as they are opposed to ethnic Hazaras who mostly belong to Shia sect of Islam.

Taliban during their reign had the worst sort of behavior with Hazaras. During the wars, thousands of Hazaras were killed in Bamyan, Mazar Sharif and Kabul by Taliban. Moreover, they were discriminated badly due to their ethnicity.

Same is the case with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The militant outfit in Pakistan has in the past few years targeted Hazaras in Quetta Pakistan because of their sect. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi considers Hazaras as infidels and has committed to oust them from Pakistan.

In similar fashion, Daish also considers Shias as infidels and the cruelties and killings they have carried out against Shias and certain other sects in Iraq and Syria are not hidden from anyone.

Who is responsible for the incident must be sought out quickly and efforts should be hastened to secure the poor victims. The government officials and authorities claim that efforts are underway and certain teams of tribal elders have been assigned as negotiators who are in dialogue with the culprits and there are hopes that the victims will be released.

Zabul Police Chief, Ghulam Jailani Farahi has mentioned that efforts are underway for peaceful and unconditional release of the abducted and if negotiations fail, they can use any other options to free them.

Seeking the support of the tribal elders is not a bad idea in this sort of incidents and if pursued with dedicated and sincere efforts there can be certain results. However, it is difficult to expect that the culprits would be ready to free the abducted passengers without any condition. Therefore, government needs to follow carefully whether negotiations are carried out with sincere efforts and that the process does not lead to some sort of tragedy for the poor victims.

Following negotiations alone is not sufficient for this serious incident. The organs responsible for security must also make efforts and must continue their work in accordance to a particular plan. Failing of negotiations must not mean the loss of valuable lives.

At the same time the authorities in Kabul must also ensure that they are fully in picture about every measure that is taken. The National Unity Government must itself pursue the developments in this regard as it is a matter of life and death of more than 30 people. Any negligence in this regard would mean a great and unbearable loss.