Before the beginning of Ramadan, there were speculations that the Taliban might cease playing the game of blood in Afghanistan at least for this month keeping in view its sacredness. In response, however, Taliban’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid not only rejected such speculations but also said that their fight will continue as fighting the holy war is more rewarding in Ramadan. But they fought their holy war against the civilians. In multiple bloody terror attacks launched by Taliban since the beginning of Ramadan, scores civilian have lost their lives or have been injured.

In a heinous act of terror, the militants killed 11 people and injured 25 other in Eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, August 03, 2013. The main target of the militants was the Indian consulate in Jalalabad city. Nonetheless, the victims are all civilians. This is not the first time that the Indian consulate has been targeted by insurgency in Afghanistan. In 2008 and 2009 the Indian Embassy was bombed, killing 75 people, while in 2010 two Kabul guest houses were attacked, leaving six Indians dead. The Indian government laid the blame at the feet of Lashkar-e-Taiba which has been more active in Afghanistan in recent years. 

The risks of attacks on Indian embassy in Kabul and its consulates located in major cities of Afghanistan always remain high and therefore, strict security measures are taken to counter any possible attack on them. The insurgents know that their harm to India in Afghanistan and their attack would definitely result in the killing defenseless civilians but yet they never give up.

The war against terrorism is taking sacrifices more than before, specifically when it comes to civilian casualties. Reports on civilian killing are disappointing and alarming. Afghans go about their daily activities but with great fear as terrorist spare nobody even the small children and women. Security has drastically deteriorated over the past seven months. Compared with previous years, insurgency has increased up to a dangerous level this year. Growing insecurity now presents a gloomier picture of Afghanistan’s future, especially after withdrawal of US-led troops from the country by the end next year.

Continued terror attacks by Taliban and other terror groups in the most sacred month in Islam, have once again established the fact that Islam and human life have no value near the these barbarians. The Afghan government and its international backers need much to do to eradicate terrorism.