Ushering in heavy attacks, the Taliban inflicted indescribable casualties upon our nation. Annual fatalities of Afghan civilians and security forces have compounded in five years to roughly 10,000 in 2015. Since 2001, Afghanistan has suffered about 75,000 fatalities. To the nation’s unmitigated chagrin, militancy lingers despite the government’s continued efforts for peace talk. The Taliban’s splinter groups keep on their destructive role across the country and trigger a sense of fear among the public.
Mullah Omar’s elder son, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, has reportedly been handed a military position within the Afghan Taliban. Yaqoob, the son of the former Taliban supreme leader and the group’s founder, had previously refused to accept the leadership of the group’s chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. Based on a Taliban statement, he will be in-charge of military commission in 15 provinces of Afghanistan. Besides this, he has also been included in the Taliban’s top decision-making council.
The announcement comes just days after senior leader Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir had declared allegiance to Mullah Mansoor. Zakir, who once headed the Taliban’s military commission, was among several influential leaders who had earlier refused to accept Mansoor’s leadership.
The conflict between Yaqoob and Mullah Akhtar Mansoor emerged after Mullah Omar’s death and appointment of Akhtar Mansoor as his successor. Yaqoob, along with Mullah Manan and Mansoor Dadullah, refused to accept his top position or pledge allegiance to him.
Once Dadullah was, reportedly, rescued by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) when loyal to Akhtar Mansoor attacked him.  Subsequently, Dadullah, his brother and dozens of his fighters were killed in Zabul province a few months ago – this enraged Omar’s family. Dadullah, who was leading a Taliban’s faction, was of the view that Omar’s sons should lead the Taliban. Religious scholars close to the Taliban brokered a ceasefire between Mansoor and the rival faction under Mullah Mohammad Rasool.
The political conflict among the Taliban’s elements will lead to horrible consequences in Afghanistan. It is said that the continued threat required maintaining an effective counterterrorism partner and platform in Afghanistan. “While the focus has been on Al Qaeda, we have certainly seen recently the rise of the Islamic State in the Khorasan, and we’re also dealing with that. That has further complicated the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford is cited as saying.
Yaqoob’s top position among the Afghan Taliban will undermine the political stability more than ever before and this is a frank denial to the resumption of peace talks. Most probably, he is tasked to orchestrate and lead terrorist attacks across the country. In other words, the Taliban elements seek to intensify their seasonal offensives in the New Year – this will bring the peace negotiation into usual stalemate. The Taliban’s decision to usher in further militancy is a blow to peace process.
The Afghan-Pak porous border deteriorates the security situation in the country. As a result, fighters loyal to Akhtar Mansoor organized the attacks against Dadullah outside the border. Similarly, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Laskhar-i-Jhangvi, etc. enjoy safe haven across the border. For instance, the Sunday’s deadly attack in Lahore’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park, which killed and wounded hundreds of people, and attack on Bacha Khan University were claimed by TTP. Moreover, members of TTP have pledged loyalty to the ISIS group. Pakistan’s director general of the Intelligence Bureau, Aftab Sultan, said earlier that ISIS emerged as challenge in Pakistan since the militant groups, particularly Sipah-i-Sahaba and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, had soft corner for it. Though ISIS and Afghan Taliban were in conflict, the TTP coordinated with it, he stated. Sultan held the banned TTP responsible for major terror incidents in Pakistan and said the group had been realigning with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Sipah-i-Sahaba. He also mentioned killings of SP Chaudhry Aslam in Karachi and ANP leader Bashir Bilour in Peshawar.
In addition, TTP largely forms “ISIL-K” in Afghan-Pak region and carried out many deadly attacks in Afghan soil against the combatants and non-combatants alike. Hence, this group gained firmed foothold in the country through porous border and supported ISIS group in infiltrating the country.
I have always had a serious doubt about the fruition of peace talks on the basis of the Taliban’s cruel practices. Despite the Afghan government’s repeated calls for truce and offering olive branch through generous acts, the Taliban outfits persist on terror and militancy. In another item, Taliban have never taken an honest step towards peace rather set unreasonable preconditions – which were beyond the acceptance of a sound mind. The peace offering has constantly been denied with the barrel of gun and women and children were the scapegoats. So, one-sided commitment for peace will never give the desired result.
Afghan officials said previously that militants are left with two choices: negotiation or military action. Since it is feared that the Taliban elements will intensify their attacks in the current, the government has to increase military deal against any warring factions who deny coming to peace table. It should be noted that the rise in civilian casualties is beyond the tolerance of the public. Therefore, the National Unity Government has to tackle this daunting issue in one way or another and prevent from further bloodbath.