KABUL - A number of analysts said Tuesday that government has made several promises over the past six months to eliminate insurgents and clear areas under their control, but the presence of militants and their activities reveal that Kabul’s security plans are mostly symbolic.
Critics said they believe that most of government’s military movements are defensive and that they are not chasing down insurgents in their hideouts.
“There has been no proper security plan to eliminate insurgents. There is confusion among the security forces,” said Selab Waziri, a political commentator.
After the fall of Kunduz city to the Taliban last year, President Ashraf Ghani vowed to prioritize Kunduz’s security.
“My order, the decision of the National Security Council is the full clearance [of Kunduz]. The security forces’ achievements should be maintained. Therefore, we should not go back to the strategy of one step forward and two steps back or two steps forwards and four steps back,” he said at a gathering in Kunduz after the fall of the city – the first to fall following the establishment of the national unity government.
Qala-e-Zal district in Kunduz witnessed huge attacks by Taliban over the past two days.
Kunduz MPs said that Ghani’s promises are deceiving and that security has not improved in Kunduz.
“Nothing has been done to ensure the safety of Kunduz’s residents. We hope that the national unity government should not deceive Kunduz residents anymore,” said Fatima Aziz, an MP from Kunduz.
The persistent defensive stance by security forces has always been criticized, but the defense and interior ministers continue to reject the view about the Afghan troops’ stance against militants.
“Terrorists had very big plans. For instance, they wanted to destabilize Helmand, Kunduz, Uruzgan and even Nangarhar and also they wanted to establish big terrorist centers, but all their plans were foiled,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri.
Sources in Kunduz said on condition of anonymity that the Taliban has established strong bases in the province and that they are mostly operating on the outskirts of Kunduz city and in parts of Chahardara, Dasht-e-Archi and Qala-e-Zal districts. Government has control only over centers of the districts, the sources said.
Recently, government confirmed that nine districts are under the control of Taliban, but reports reveal that no steps have been taken to clear the areas. (Tolonews)