The security situation in Afghanistan is facing serious challenges nowadays. The Taliban insurgents have been very active and they have targeted various places around the country, killing security personnel and innocent civilians. Unfortunately, the innocent civilians have to face the consequences of most of the Taliban’s attacks. After the dreadful attacks in Kunduz and Kandahar, Taliban on Saturday, August 31, targeted oil tankers in central Maidan Wardak province. According to the news reports militants attacked the tankers on the Kabul-Ghazni highway near the Salar Bazaar in Syedabad district on Saturday evening, burning 23 tankers.  Two Public Order Police personnel and a driver were killed in the attack, which left a dozen others wounded, including four security officials, as many civilians and four truckers.

Taliban, on the other hand claimed the responsibility of the attack and their spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed that 24 tankers were set to fire and 28 security guards were killed. 

With the insurgent activities rising in different places around the country, the security mechanism must exert maximum efforts to control the situation as worsening of the situation at this crucial juncture would definitely challenge the complete setup in the country.

The insurgents have kept on targeting the public places, transportations and transportation routes. Kabul-Ghazni highway has been one of the main routes that have been the victim of such attacks. Within these attacks the insurgents have vehemently used IED’s, which have always been a challenge for the security personnel to deal with.

One of the most unfortunate facts about these incidents has been that they have kept on targeting the innocent civilians. Though Taliban have always neglected that they do not target the civilians but their deeds have shown otherwise. They have been responsible for most of the deaths among the civilians within more than a decade of war.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in a statement, has instructed the security organs to address the problems, mainly security problems, being faced by transporters and passengers on the busy routes; however there have to be practical measures to control the situation. A comprehensive strategy and valid tactics are required to deal with the situation. Taliban have kept on changing their tactics, therefore, it is necessary for the NATO and Afghan forces to come up with updated tactics to curb the situation, which seems to be getting out of control and making the people pessimistic about the future of our country.