Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Security Challenges Ahead of National Unity Government

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Security Challenges Ahead of National Unity Government

Everyday our beloved country bleeds with blood of innocents either civilians or security officials while serving their motherland. The insurgents are exerting their might to let unity government hear their say. The former blast rocked the capital Kabul city that reportedly injured many people including a policeman. The perpetrator carried in, the explosive truck in the Qasaba area of the 15th police district. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the responsibility.

This desperate state of affairs isn’t confined to just civilians; the law and enforcement agencies and foreigners alike render prime target.  Earlier, unidentified gunmen shot a police officer dead in Lashkar Gah, provincial capital of southern Helmand province. In eastern Nangarhar province the magnetic bomb attached to a border police vehicle went off and claimed lives of two border policemen and injured two others. Earlier, a passenger van was bombed in Kabul on domestic journey leaving scores dead.

The countless efforts made by security official at the scene are laudable who strived hard to contain the militants at minimum harms and succeeded to some extent. However, serious questions related to plagued performance of security forces at entrances and deficient intelligence reports are raised at poor performance that seemed short of timely co-ordination. How an explosive, automatic guns and suicide jackets laden car could easily pass the security check points? Why there was no intelligence report prior to the incidence? The heavy paid security institutions are liable for their negligence and security lapses. If the aforementioned drifts are not bridged then the future prospects of a perpetual deteriorated state of affairs can’t be ruled out.

The worsened condition of law and order and frequent activities of ISIS and Taliban reflect as if insurgents are running a parallel government. On the other hand the former arbitrary release of large number of Taliban inmates seems to be strengthening their might and they are signaling their presence by carrying out attacks. What is clear is that the insurgents are expanding their range of operations. The insurgents are operating at will and quite rapidly expanding operations to parts of the country where it previously appeared to have little ability to act. It also seems that the militants are familiar with important installations, and their attacks are meticulously staged. If a wise and coordinated strategy is not pursued then control over eastern and southern Afghanistan might slip into the hands of the Taliban with no apparent ability to foil this, post US pull out. The escalating violence across the country also sparks the concern over how the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces will be able to manage once foreign troops withdraw by 2014.

It depicts Taliban are definitely keeping their proclamation and pursuing their target. Nevertheless, the government necessary preparation and a coordinated joint effort to be taken seem non-existent. Despite state’s security apparatus tried its best foiling the attack to a greater extent on many occasions –the non-providence of necessary information about the Taliban’s advances is a clear reflection of loopholes in security institutions.

Following regular critics, the intelligence institution, in a bid to excel its performance has doubled its surveillance system, to keep a close watch over important movements of insurgents. Formerly, a tale of Afghan intelligence operatives infiltrating among the networks of the enemies of Afghanistan in a bid to put further pressure on the groups which are involved in insurgency activities in the country.

The nominee keeping the position of National Directorate of Security (NDS) chief, Nabil while presenting his work plan said the Afghan intelligence has successfully maintained pressure on terrorist networks including Taliban, al-Qaeda and Haqqani network by executing sophisticated and major operations. According to the official the law enforcer has aggressively sought to keep the resurgent Taliban at bay, stop the remnants of Al Qaeda from growing fresh roots in Afghanistan, and keep the Islamic State from winning adherents in the Afghan insurgency.

This is an appreciable move, but will not lead to fruition unless a coordinated political decision is made tackling insurgency. It is always expected with rise in capacity of militants the law enforcement agencies ought to equally equip itself with all required necessities. The rumors of emergence of ISIS multiply the headache of security apparatus. The government must devise strategies to cope with double challenges. It was previously cautioned by commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan Gen. John Campbell earlier also said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is recruiting militants in Afghanistan.

Taliban portray dominant might by launching consecutive strikes at will on important foreigners’ installations and governmental institutions and have succeeded deploying number of insurgents in ANA and ANP that execute insider attacks. In spite of arbitrary release of large number of Taliban members’ negligible shift in their violent attitude is observed. Taliban show-off their military might by launching such attacks and pushing the government to the table of negotiation. Government must use its maximum discourse curtailing such attacks by improving the system of information sharing network. Its, therefore, every government, subsequent to assuming of its office, issues appealing sentiments to this disgruntled groups. President Karzai used to call Taliban, his ‘disavowed brothers’; the incumbent government called them its ‘political opposition’. Moreover, the door of negotiation is never shut; the Taliban are always welcomed provided they exhibit willingness to peace talks.

Asmatyari is permanent writer of Daily outlook Afghanistan. He can be reached at asmatyari@gmail.com

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