Several policemen were killed in Sangin District of Helmand on Tuesday in yet another spring offensive of the Taliban. A group of about 1000 fighters trapped some police check posts and attacked capturing three of the posts. Later, calling reinforcements, forces from Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army drove off the militants and took back the check posts. Without calling for any aerial or ground support from the International Security Assistance Forces, ANP and ANA did well in quelling the Taliban militants, showing their capacity to fight.
The increasing Taliban attacks since last month show their intentions well about the so-called peace and reconciliation process that seems to be out of the lens these days. Nobody talks about the talks with Taliban. What happened to Roadmap 2015 strategy drafts? The Government circles were beating drums of excitement, but it seems all have come to point zero.
It seems all the claims and meetings from Qatar to Kabul are not working to set a mechanism for talks, while the Government has been hush for past several weeks on the issue, since the Kabul-Islamabad swings. All that has remained for media consumption is the exchange of accusations.
On the other hand, Taliban have been quite clear and persistent with their agenda. They continue slaughtering innocent civilians in bloodbath. There is not a single day when a civilian or member of the ANP or ANA is being killed. They claim to carry heavy attacks this summer and special suicide bombing units have been tasked for Kabul.
The Government’s incapacity and lack of a coherent counterinsurgency and anti-terrorism policy is taking us to an unknown direction of uncertainty among masses. How long will the Karzai Administration continue the policy of attempts to appease Taliban with criminal incapacity to protect lives of Afghan civilians?
Amid all this uncertain situation due to the incapacity of our leadership, the only hope remains with a smooth transfer of power in Kabul next year through a free, fair and transparent elections that should bring a new leadership with popular support and strong will to lead us out of the uncertainty whether it’s through talks with Taliban or a tough fight. The current administration lacks credibility and capacity for both. However, the current rulers are too stubborn to let the political transition happen smoothly. They are looking for crisis to create chaos and make space for their continued exploitation of the situation.