A country ruined by decades of war cannot be reconstructed over nights. International media usually use the term ‘war-torn’ before Afghanistan. That is because USSR invasion, civil war and then Taliban left no stone unturned to destruct this country. It will take Afghanistan long-term to recoup its infrastructures, security and economy provided its government become more active and the international community remains committed and a permanent solution to insurgency in the country can be found.

It is difficult for Afghanistan to turn peaceful in a short span of time, as conflict still continues. Taliban are daydreaming of regaining power by overthrowing the government once the NATO troops withdraw. For turning their dream into a reality, they have intensified their spring assaults that have resulted in the deaths of scores of innocent people, foreign and national security forces, already. But to all the violence they spread, the government of Afghanistan has responded by urging them to halt terrorism and stop killing their own countrymen and talk peace.

The reconciliation process launched by Afghan government and backed by the international community is the very channel through which the Taliban insurgents are invited. Based on the government’s claim, thousands of Taliban ground fighters have joined a normal Afghan life over the last few years. Nonetheless, critics say these are either not the true Taliban or they have joined the peace process only to obtain the benefits offered under it and then re-join the Taliban.

Will Taliban continue to fight or get involved in peace negotiations to put an end to their years-long resistance against the Afghan government? From what currently prevails in Afghanistan it can be said that they will bolster their insurgency in the years to come.

Next year will be the election year and in the same year, majority of the US-led forces will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. So the Taliban seem not to be ready to abandon their struggle at a point of time when they will have more freedom to operate.

When in 2009, the Obama administration deployed 33,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, the Taliban were removed from their major strongholds. The next year, the Afghan government launched its peace and reconciliation process. Although the Taliban were under extreme pressure, they did not indicate any readiness to talk peace with Afghan government. How come they would show such a readiness now when the US and other NATO troops are packing for home?