It is really unfortunate to note that violence and instability have been victimizing Afghanistan in some way or the other for the last few decades. Currently, though there have been many improvements and a certain level of security and tranquility has been achieved, serious concerns still remain and they require immediate attention from the authorities and the people of Afghanistan. Afghan authorities and people have to realize the fact that security challenges in the country have kept on changing their forms and ways and measures to curb them must be developed in accordance to the changing nature of the challenges; otherwise, the prospects of success against insecurity will diminish to a large extent.
To fight the growing terrorism that had started threatening the whole world, US and its allies chose to fight it in its shelter, which at that time was, unfortunately, Afghanistan. After the incident of 9/11 there has been a clash between the Taliban and Western forces on Afghan soil. Though in the very beginning of the war Taliban insurgents did not have much option except to flee; unfortunately, that running away was just to find refuge at a save place and return through different techniques and threaten the Western and the Afghan forces.
Instead of opting for direct war they have opted to attack through Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), suicide bombings, ambushes, targeted killings, and other tactics. Unfortunately, these tactics of them have influenced the peace and tranquility of the country to a large extent and have even influenced the social-psychology by haunting it through insecurity complex. At the same time they have taken the lives of thousands of civilians, which is the most unfortunate outcome of these filthy arrangements.
In one of the most recent incidents four rockets were fired into the Afghan capital Kabul early on Tuesday (November 13) morning, killing one civilian and injuring three others riding in a station wagon. Gen. Mohammad Zahir, chief of criminal investigation for Kabul police, said the mobile phone-operated rockets were fired from the eastern district of Deh Sabz at approximately 6:40 a.m. One rocket hit a station wagon near the army slaughterhouse, killing one occupant and injuring three others; two rockets landed in the vicinity of the Kabul International Airport while a third hit the private Shamshad television network compound several kilometers away, without causing any casualties. Gen. Zahir said police discovered and deactivated a fifth rocket before being fired using a mobile phone as a timer. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Rocket attacks on Kabul are rare. However, it should be taken in consideration that such attacks should be controlled appropriately; otherwise they may turn into one of the tactics of the enemies of the country to spread terror among the people.
Taliban have also been able to spread terror through their tactic of IED attacks. So far many civilians and security forces have been targeted by IEDs. Two Afghan civilians were injured when a improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the Afghan Local Police (ALP) vehicle they were travelling in, Ghorak district on Tuesday (November 13). The civilians were being driven by the ALP to a local Coalition Forces base for routine medical treatment when the IED detonated, seriously wounding the two individuals and the ALP driver.
"The careless actions of insurgents continue to injure innocent civilians," said a local Afghan police official. "Injury to civilian lives in unacceptable and inhumane. This seems to be the signature of the insurgents and their actions show the callousness they have toward hurting, even killing innocent lives."
However, another attempt of IED attack was made unsuccessful by Afghan security forces. According to the news reports two improvised explosive devices (IED) were cleared by an Afghan local security while ALP provided security in Mirokheyl village.
The ALP discovered the IED along a path that villagers frequently use and, after blocking off the danger area, notified the local security forces for removal. Security forces arrived, and after ensuring all civilians were cleared from the area, removed the IED with no injuries or damage to property. "The removal of this bomb will help make the village safe," said an Afghan man who observed the incident from a safe distance. "Children and elders use this path daily, we are happy the security forces were here to have it removed."
Taliban, on various occasions, have claimed that they would not target the civilians directly but the reality about attempts mentioned above is totally against what is claimed by them. Though a recent UN report revealed that there has been a decline in the civilian casualties in the ongoing year as compared to the same period last year, the concerns still remain very much disturbing as the number of civilians being killed as a result of insurgency still remains very high. The report also disclosed that about 80 percent of the civilian-killings resulted from the attacks of the Taliban insurgents.
Civilian killings, therefore, clearly depict that Taliban do not care much about the civilian casualties; what they mostly care about is their threat and dominancy over the security arrangements. The report also depicted that the IEDs still remain the most deadly for civilians as they caused 29 percent of the casualties.
The common masses in Afghanistan must bother about the deterioration in security as they are basically the ones who have been suffering and may suffer to a further extent if instability and terrorism prevail in the country. It is really pathetic to see the civilians losing their lives when they have nothing to do with the war. In the economically unstable and war-torn country like Afghanistan, people have not only suffered the hardships of the poor and miserable lives but also the horrors of war.
They have been killed mercilessly as if their lives do not have any value or meaning and it is important to see that the Taliban are mostly behind the demise of the poor civilians. It is really unfortunate to note that they still remain powerful enough to conduct their merciless efforts to target the civilians in addition to the Afghan and international forces.
Different attacks, bombings, shootings and suicide bombings of the vicious guardians of the so-called holy war have only been able to target the children, women and non-military figures. With the presence of such facts, it is weird to find Taliban calling themselves friendly to Afghan people.
They have been trying to develop an image of caring and affectionate body that is trying to liberate the people of Afghanistan from the Western forces. But the fact is just on the contrary. They just want power and for that they will never hesitate to sacrifice the poor Afghan people. If they come to power, it is evident that Afghan people will never have peace, contentment and above all their due rights.