Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Saturday, April 20th, 2024

Delayed Discovery of 31 Hazara Abductees Raises Apprehensions

Man most probably is created, getting the world transformed from a desolate land into a bejeweled and well designed dreamland where his fellowman could be provided with very elements of peace, harmony, undying adoration and an immortal bond of affection synchronized in global human society. The selfless efforts of some individuals crystallized by the end of the day letting us closer to the warehouse substantiated with every necessity that could effectively be used bridging the physical distance between far stretched man beings. The countless endeavors of those individuals bore fruit and turned the world into global village where the agonies, miseries, pains of individuals could be unaffectedly felt by fellow individuals and likely would be done away with.

Notwithstanding, the individuals driven by evil motives, forged ideologies and sever repression put them in the black race of domination, overthrow leading to formation of a human society we witness at the moment, characterized by rule of violence, aggression, characterized by innumerable bloodshed, abduction and ruthless killings of fellowmen.

Earlier a carriage was intercepted on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, by a group of militants uniformed in black from top to toe, separated 31 ill-fated Hazara due to get to home, were taken away to an unknown location after recognition of their identity. There is no tangible clue to whereabouts of those abductees. The government seemingly is making efforts to ensure their safe release, yet no major breakthrough has materialized. Abduction is another weapon the militants have resorted to, formerly. Mass abduction has always been used either for financial gains or furtherance of political cause. In case of Hazara abductees both propositions apply.

Hazara Shiite are great often have rendered prey to sectarian violence at the hands of extremists in Afghanistan. An exception was a large-scale sectarian attack in Afghanistan in 2011 in which dozens of Shiite worshippers were killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul. Hazara were persecuted during the 1990s when the Taliban ruled most of Afghanistan, and so does it now. During the wars, thousands of Hazaras were killed in Bamyan, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul by Taliban. Moreover, they were discriminated badly due to their ethnicity. In similar fashion, Daesh 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.

Eventually, this clearly shows the level of insecurity in the country. Moreover, the interception of a passenger vehicles and abduction of fatless passengers, in a bright day light without fearing apprehension marks enlarging security threat given security checks are found functional on all entries. And the most unfortunate fact is that there are no confirmed reports about who abducted them and where they are at the moment. Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, a prominent Hazara Leader and second deputy to Chief Executive officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, has confirmed that the 31 Hazaras have been kidnapped by militants belonging to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants. He said two former Taliban leaders – Mullah Abdullah Kaka and his deputy Mullah Mansur Dadullah, who pledged allegiance to ISIS terrorist group, were responsible for the abduction of 31 members of the Hazara tribe. According to Mohaqiq the hostages are still alive and are being held in different areas by the militants who have slipped them up into three or four groups. This is the first time an Afghan leader has confirmed Islamic State group involvement in the kidnappings.

Despite the government's assurances that everything possible is being done to secure the release of the Hazara hostages, no progress has been made known, and, overall, the process has been cloaked in secrecy. As the day advances the government coming up empty promises earns intensified criticism by civil society, the poor masses and relatives of affected families. While some have moved on from the news of the kidnappings, the families of those still missing grieve day in and day out. They are passionate about hearing good news from security officials rendering successful in setting free their dear ones.

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. This stance is confirmed by recent local reports add based on the returns of the tribal negotiators from the particular location where the caged are taken, saying that they could hardly persuade the community elders for the talk about the missing people. Some of the community elders did not even show interest for their release and that is not sure whether it is due to unhealthy circumstances being posed by the kidnapers or they are not willing to be involved in the matter, according to reports.

Who is responsible for the incident must be sought out quickly and efforts should be hastened to uncover the poor victims. It is the responsibility of a government within a state to ensure peace and security of its citizens within the country whose dears’ ones are anxiously waiting their safe return. The government seems to be determined doing away the worries of masses by extending improved governance. The government must learn following the security threats the people have greatly restricted their governments within the country which has equally impacted passengers, the poor wagers and transporters alike.