The increasing trend of abduction of civilian passengers in highways is one of the indicators of the deterioration of the overall security situation in the country. The phenomenon is becoming a new menace and security challenge in the country that could turn to a much bigger challenge for the country. During recent weeks, there has been a sharp increase in abduction of civilian passengers by militants on roads leading to Qarabagh and Jaghori districts of Ghazni. Recently, the Taliban kidnapped and killed four civilians. However, there were reports on Friday that some of the passengers who were abducted this week would be released soon.  Negotiations have been underway by local elders to free the hostages. But it seems there has been no breakthrough for securing safe release of the hostages.

It is not fully clear who is behind the abductions of the passengers in Ghazni province. There have been different accounts over who are behind kidnapping civilian passengers from Hazara districts of Ghazni province. There are claims that in some cases Taliban militants are behind the kidnappings while there are evidences of involvement of other militants such as the Islamic State group and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Taliban’s involvement in the kidnappings is not openly denied by the group, but a spokesman of the group recently said the group did not accept responsibility for kidnapping of seven civilians on the road to Jaghori district and will try to find their whereabouts. Despite the allegations regarding involvement of different parties including Taliban, foreign militants and Kuchis (nomads), the mystery whether who are behind the abductions remains obscure.

The motive behind the abductions seem to be a combination of increased activities of the militant groups in Zabul and Ghazni provinces and misuse of the adverse security situation by irresponsible local groups making different sorts of demands. There are different accounts of the demands of the militants. In the past, militants have asked release of militant inmates from prisons of the Afghan government. Local residents disguised in Taliban dress also have resorted to kidnappings of civilians from the western and northern districts of Ghazni provinces. The pattern for the abduction of civilians in Ghazni province is becoming clearer recently. The Kuchis in Ghazni claimed responsibility for abducting12 passengers and made their release conditional to recovery of their cattle. There is a long history of rivalries between local residents belonging to different ethnic groups. The kidnapping trend is being used as a weapon for taking revenge.

The worrisome trend of kidnapping civilians does not forebode well for coexistence of different ethnic groups in Ghazni province. There have been prolonged wars among Hazara and Pashtoon residents of the province in the past decades of civil conflicts. However, in recent decade peoples belonging to different ethnic groups residing in Ghazni province have had friendly ties and used to live in coexistence. The recent cases of abductions by militants have happened in areas populated by local Pashtoons. And in many cases, residents of Hazara districts have pointed fingers of accusation to their neighbors of other ethnic group. This is alarming for the future of coexistence among ethnic groups residing in Ghazni province. The dark history of civil war in Ghazni should be avoided and the government should take immediate actions to prevent the situation from becoming further worsened.

The trend of abduction of civilians is of grave concern not only for Hazara ethnic minority but for the country as a whole. The issue and its unforeseen consequences could turn into a potential ethnic tension in the war-torn country. Local residents in the province are increasingly taking arms to defend against any possible attacks from the militants. The increased inter-ethnic tensions could easily erupt in areas where ethnic groups live in close proximity as the government has no efficient security coverage in the areas. The abductions of noncombatants could be the starting point for larger scale inter-ethnic tensions. Locals in increasingly insecure areas are finding themselves in a difficult situation, forcing them to arm and provide security.

Such kidnapping incidents could turn catastrophic for Afghanistan due involvement of external hands in the incidents despite that local insurgent groups are thought to be responsible for the kidnappings. Seeking revenge by local residents in minor issues may quickly get the situation uncontrolled and ham the long-lasting coexistence among the peoples. The fact that the recent kidnappings are targeting a specific ethnic group is quite worrisome. Such inter-ethnic tensions in other countries have proved destructive not only for minorities but also for the governments’ ability to govern effectively.  There is a visible negligence from the government over the recent kidnappings. The government needs to respond to the situation in Ghazni province and secure the roads leading to the districts of Ghazni province. Therefore, the government needs to act decisively and respond to the growing insecurity in highways and roads of Ghazni province. The government’s obvious indifference to the increasing trend of kidnapping will seriously harm the government’s prestige in keeping its commitment to the safety and security of the citizens. The government should pursue the perpetrators of the kidnappings and redouble its efforts to release the passengers. The government should help negotiations between local elders and representatives of the areas whose relations are increasingly getting tense due to the recent kidnappings in the province.

There is an urgent need for operationalization of local police or local resistance groups. But it is crucial that such groups operate while maintaining responsible. The people residing in Ghazni province threatened by the militants needs to arm and defend locally against any incursions of the militants. The government should support the locals to defend themselves in the face increased activities of the militant groups.