As Afghanistan is moving towards the end of so-called transition period, the security challenges are mounting. After 2014, most of the international forces would not be in the country to support Afghanistan and the Afghan security forces have to guarantee their security by themselves which is really a Herculean task. With the current rise and swelling wave of terrorism, it should not be neglected that Taliban have been able to grow largely in the recent few years. The transition period, instead of pointing towards progress and improvement, seems to be going the other way. In fact the overall process of transition does not seem to be working well. This period does not have to be only a transfer of security responsibility from international forces to Afghan forces, rather it should be comprehensive enough to include within its folds the overall political and economic stability and better life opportunities for all the Afghan people.
To add concerns regarding security in the country, it was reported by news sources, on Friday evening, October 18 that a suicide bomber in a car detonated his explosives against a heavily-fortified international compound, known as Green Village, on Jalalabad Highway, in Kabul. Several people were feared to be killed and wounded as after the blast several militants attacked the compound. The compound is said to be housing hundreds of international diplomats and contractors.
The Kabul police headquarters confirmed the attack and The Ministry of Interior spokesman Siddiqui Siddique confirmed it was a suicide attack, saying an investigation team had been dispatched to the scene; however, no further details are available so far.
The attack clearly shows that insurgents can enter the capital Kabul without much hindrance and can hit their target. If they have the capacity to target the capital Kabul, they can do much more in other parts of the country.
Moreover, another piece of news a couple of days earlier, revealed that Germany has closed its embassy in Kabul after the country’s intelligence agency, the BND, warned of a risk of terrorist attack. On Thursday, October 17, Germany’s foreign minister confirmed its embassy in Afghanistan was shut but declined to comment on a media report it had been closed in response to a "serious" security threat.
These incidents clearly depict that the security situation is getting very serious and Afghanistan would be really tested in the times to come. On the other hand, there are serious questions about the capability of Afghan forces to tackle the growing terrorism in the country masterfully. Moreover, the corruption and lack of motivation in the forces further incapacitate them in the war against terrorism. The number of troop members leaving the force has had an increasing trend, while the number of the members involved in different issues of corruption has also been increasing; add to it the lack of latest technology.
Another important concern is the budget that would be required for maintaining Afghan army and police after the international forces withdraw from the country. There have been indications that Afghan economy does not have the capacity to afford an army that is needed against terrorism without huge support from international community that does not seem in the position to do that.
Another important aspect of the transition period is that it must end in a stable Afghanistan. Though the security transition has been going in accordance to the programmed schedule but the political transition does not seem to be taking place. The peace process and political stability that have to be transitioned as well, are nowhere to be seen. The political structure seems to be lacking the capacity to form a political integrity in the country, and the peace process seems to be going nowhere.
The post transition period in Afghanistan has to be a period that can give poverty stricken Afghan people their basic requirements; provide them better representation and participation in political and social life; make them capable of governing themselves appropriately; assist them in forming strong ties with the regional powers and keeping the doors of economic and political supports from them open and maintaining strategic partnership with international community and above all with US. However, it does never imply that the national interests must be sacrificed in order to have better relations with regional powers or even with international community, because at the end it is Afghanistan that needs most of the care and devotion.