Fear of return of insurgents to power or even eruption of a bloody civil war is occupying more space in the minds and hearts of the people of Afghanistan. Up to a great extent this fear is due expanding length and breadth of violence in the country. The lingering war has cost precious lives of thousands of military personnel and civilians and it still is taking toll. The civil war in Afghanistan in 90s that erupted as a result of Soviet defeat paved the path for Taliban to overthrow the government in center and extent its rule to over 90% of Afghan territory. Today, if the West leaves Afghanistan without having resolved the war in here through a proper strategy, there is no guarantee that the country would not fall into 90s-like chaos and Taliban would not grab power. After all, this has been the main objective of Taliban’s almost 12-year long resistance to once again rule the Afghan people.

Indeed, in a large number of districts in Afghanistan, Taliban’s influence is growing. In such districts, this is the Taliban who start ruling from the sunset until the dawn. The Taliban have been making much bloody effort to keep their influence growing in various parts of Afghanistan. Their influence, growing operations and media statements are enough to clarify their intention of regaining power in Afghanistan. Suicide attacks, targeted killings, unsafe highways and abductions that Afghans have to face on daily basis reduce their hope and add to their disappointments. As Afghanistan will move ahead, such acts brutality are expected to further increase and put the little stability of Afghanistan at the verge of destruction.

U.S. General Joseph Dunford, commander of the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan has said that Afghanistan's future security will remain dependent on international troops for many years after most foreign combat forces leave by the end of 2014. The quantity of foreign forces that will remain in Afghanistan still remains vague and deadline for the crucial presidential election and withdrawal of international forces is approaching fast. Meanwhile, the Taliban-led insurgency is growing with the passage of each day.

In the coming months, the Taliban will intensify their insurgency the main purpose of which will be weakening 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. The US and Afghan government must speed up the pace of finalizing the strategic partnership agreement so that a strong message to the insurgent can be sent and their heinous intensions can be dismantled.