Afghanistan Times
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While the government was hopeful it could open a new chapter for the peace talks with the new Taliban leader after the killing of the militants’ former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the group’s response was disappointing.
Apparently the insurgents still stand on their war and bloodshed position as they intensified attacks around the country. This week, the militants dragged some 200 people from passenger buses heading from Badakhshan and Takhar provinces to Kabul via Kunduz province. They killed a dozen of the passengers accusing them of serving in the security forces. It is rumored that the Taliban have got access to government’s biometric system through which they identify government employees.
The situation in the southern region is worsening as the militants assault security checkpoints in the provinces of Helmand, Kandahar and Uruzgan. Among these provinces, Uruzgan is in the worst situation coming under Taliban’s pressure in recent days. The situation in Uruzgan is worst for the last 15 years, as head of the provincial council describes, referring to the conflicts since the Taliban’s regime was overthrown by the US-led international invasion in 2001. He has estimated that 200 policemen and soldiers were killed only in May, saying that 300 more were injured. Security forces are doing their best to keep the control of the area, but they can’t because logistics supplies are not delivered on time, according to this provincial official.
The Amnesty International said this week that the number of the people internally displaced has doubled in three years, soaring up to 1.2 million.
The new leader for the insurgents Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, a conservative cleric who has no battle experience, said recently that he would follow his successors’ way by continuing fight against the government. Akhundzada’s statement is delivered while government officials were optimistically waiting for a green signal from him.
People say they are now scared of travelling to the provinces after the Kunduz’s kidnapping incident on one of the very few safe highways. Unfortunately, people are losing hope and trust in the government, declaring that it does not intend to do anything for the security.
If the rumors about Taliban’s access to the biometric system appear true, nobody would feel safe in any area. Ministry of Interior has denied militants’ access to the system, but most of the rumors in Afghanistan come true.
The government just condemns attacks, and it seems to do nothing more. If the government only keeps condemning, the insurgents would intensify killing people more and more and the worsening security situation would continue.
