Recent attacks in Kabul, Kandahar, Baghalan and Hirat provinces are enough to illustrate that Taliban’s spring offensive is getting momentum. The same kind of view has been expressed by Ministry of Defense (MoD) spokesman, General Abdul Zahir Azimi. Addressing a joint press conference with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman General Gunter Katz in Kabul on Monday, General Abdul Zahir Azimi said the attacks of the armed opponents had increased over the past few months but the security forces were capable to cope with them. According to General Azimi, the Taliban have deployed more ground fighters in Afghanistan as they aim to regain power after NATO troops’ withdrawal by the end of next year.

There is no doubt that Taliban are eagerly waiting for NATO to withdraw from Afghanistan. They eye 2014 as the starting year for their victory in Afghanistan. It is the responsibility of the countries involved in fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan not to let Taliban’s dream of regaining power in Afghanistan come true. The problem of growing insurgency does not only pertain to Afghanistan. It is a global matter that needs international effort. The more the Afghan war lingers, the more it will negatively impact politics and economy of regional and western countries.  

There was civil war in Afghanistan in 90s after Soviet withdrawal. This paved the path for Taliban to overthrow the government in center and extent its rule to over 90% of Afghan territory. If the West leaves Afghanistan without having resolved the war in here, there is much possibility of re-eruption of civil war and that would once again make grounds feasible for Taliban’s return to power.

There are doubts that Afghanistan may fall into further security and economic chaos after 2014 when the military and financial support from the international community will diminish. There are chances that insurgents will gain more strength and jeopardize the gains Afghanistan has had in the last 11 years.

The next few years are crucial and decisive for the future of Afghanistan. Taliban will intensify their insurgency to topple the Afghan government and most probably they will not pay any attention to calls for resolving the conflict through table talks until they are offered significant power in Afghan government. It has to be seen how the Afghan government will tackle the situation when there will be diminished international military and financial support?