A large number of people came out on streets in Pul Alam in a protest demonstration against the Taliban. They were chanting ‘death to Taliban’ and urged the Afghan National Security Forces to bring those responsible for the inhumane massacre of eight innocent laborers into account.

Those laborers were slaughtered the other day on their way to the US military base where they worked in construction projects. As innocent lone breadwinners of their homes, many families have been left without a guardian and earner. The Taliban abducted laborers in Logar Province and shot them all on their heads in a nearby district near the provincial capital.

Hundreds of people who came out on roads expressed their outrage against the Taliban. It is not something usual to be reported. However, it does not mean the people of Afghanistan are insensitive to the merciless killings by the Taliban. Every now and then, when there are intentional civilian casualties, people condemn the Taliban and the demand the Government for security. In the international media, the question of why Afghans do not stand against Taliban civilian brutalities has been raised regularly. The answer is that, people expect the Government in Kabul to maintain security and improve rule of law. When in any area they see militant influence gets too much, we have witnessed the uprising movements and armed resistance, like the ones in Ghazni province.

The protesters on Sunday alleged some MPs pressurized the Government to remove the security check posts in the area where the laborers were killed. It is an accusation that the concerned quarters at the Interior Ministry need to respond and investigate. If the Government ignores such protests, it would further erode it’s legitimacy in the eyes of masses for not only being failed to provide security, but also showing utter disregard for the calls of people. Reportedly the protesters accused lawmakers Muhammad Akbar Stanikzai and Haji Ali Mohammad of indirect involvement in the massacre. These need to be investigated and the Government must answer.

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. 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.