Lately the Afghan Intelligence service has said that Afghan security forces defused 62 suicide bombs across the country during the very day of elections, 6th April. Based on reports, 690 attacks were carried out by militants around the country aimed to threaten people and disrupt the voting process but with no major casualties. 164 of them were killed and 82 militants wounded just on the elections’ day.

From some point of view, it can be the most horrible failure of Taliban militants that even could not disrupt the smooth electoral process in restive regions which were deemed to be exposed to their attacks. Since then militants have not been able to carry out any spectacular attacks. Daily reports and statements of National Security Directorate reflect the increasing capacity of the Afghan security forces in fighting Taliban and its al-Qaeda ally. Good level of peace during the entire elections day and thereafter was appreciated by Afghan civilians. The day after elections day, 7th April, a group of civilians handed flowers to Afghan security forces as an appreciation for the great job they did.

Seemingly, the confidence of civilians has increased much on security forces. Previously, people feared that after foreign military withdrawal, the country will relapse to its historic problem and the civil war may again break out. But recently they have shown that they can independently defend their country and fight insurgency albeit with technical and financial support of our international allies.

Meanwhile, it does not mean that everything is OK and we do not need foreign security forces anymore. They need further training, especially, service intelligence to stand against the interference of regional countries – whether it is accepted or not, presently, a kind of intelligence war is going on in the country. For some spectacular attacks carried out in the most barricaded areas foreign intelligence were blamed.

Additionally, despite good establishments and trained soldiers, it is not clear how they may react in particular cases. Indeed, it is still a worrisome issue that security may divert to politicians. If anything goes at top, for example, if any leading presidential candidate does not accept the result of election, part of security may also support them from inside the government which will be disastrous.

Anyhow, Afghan soldiers are day by day improving and changing into protector of national interests. It is really promising.