Nazia Nazar
Afghanistan is in the throes of a multidimensional civil war; and with the rift between the partners of Unity Government and intensified Taliban attacks, the country is adrift to more uncertainties, chaos and anarchy. Afghan National Unity Government has failed on many counts; instead of putting its own house in order, it continues to blame Pakistan for its failures. Instead of acknowledging its failures in reining in the Taliban, it continues with the blame game, which will not help control the situation. There is record increase in the violence in Afghanistan and the Taliban have expanded their influence by gaining control in the territory held by them. Russia, China and Pakistan have been trying to persuade the Taliban to end violence and come to the negotiation table, but President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah are averse to the idea of having any agreement with the Taliban.
It appears that they do not wish to hold talks with the Taliban as they will have to share power with the Taliban. But this is a flawed strategy, and they would continue to see turmoil and violence. At least 140 Afghan National Army soldiers were killed on Friday when Taliban gunmen and suicide bombers in military uniforms stormed an Afghan Army base in northern Afghanistan. Six assailants dressed in military uniforms drove in two army vehicles past the first checkpoint, according to Lt. Colonel Abdul Qahar Aram, a spokesman for the corps. At the second checkpoint, one of the suicide bombers blew up his explosives, allowing the militants to enter, take up positions and start firing at soldiers, who were leaving after their prayers and making their way to lunch. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack through a spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid.
The Taliban spokesman said at least four of the attackers earlier belonged to Afghan National Army, which shows that the Taliban have infiltrated in Afghan forces. Anyhow, it was intelligence and security failure, and the biggest attack after 9/11. The attack came weeks after militants entered the Afghan Army’s main hospital in Kabul, the capital, and killed more than 50 people in a siege that lasted nearly seven hours. Such a major security breach in Balkh, even before the start of the insurgents’ spring offensive, is a major concern to Afghan forces who are already struggling in the fight against the Taliban. In 2016, more than 6,700 Afghan forces were killed in battle. In January 2017, more than fifty people including four of UAE embassy staff were killed. The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Afghanistan died in February 2017 of wounds sustained in a bomb attack in Kandahar.
Analysts and officials with the American-led coalition forces, who are training and assisting the Afghan forces, have been very critical of the inept leadership and widespread corruption in the ranks, which is contributing to the large number of casualties. General John W. Nicholson, the commander of the American and NATO forces, has expressed his need for a few thousand more American troops on the group to assist and train the Afghan forces. Analysts said the repeated ability of a few militants to cause tremendous bloodshed in highly secure areas was a troubling sign ahead of the Taliban’s spring offensive. Jawed Kohistani, an Afghan security analyst, said the Balkh attack seemed to be in retaliation to Afghan Special Forces’ targeting local Taliban leaders in night raids. “The gap, weakness and problem lie in management, in the intelligence agency and the carelessness of high-ranking officials,” he added.
But there are other factors such as rampant corruption and ghost soldiers in the Afghan National Army. During the last two months, the U.S. military has removed more than 30,000 names of suspected ghost Afghan soldiers from its payroll, as part of a widening corruption crackdown that a top American general estimates will save the U.S. millions of dollars each month. Major General Richard Kaiser said that U.S. military would pay only Afghan soldiers who were biometrically enrolled in their country’s army and had matching identity cards. In addition, US Commander General Nicholson had told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia and Iran were aiding the Taliban. He accused Russia and Iran of trying to scuttle its mission in the war-devastated country. He alleged Iran was directly involved in providing support to the militants.
Another problem is that Afghan government and its allies are washing their laundry in public by accusing each other of ethnicity and nepotism. First Vice President abdul Rashid Dostum was under criticism for abducting and sexually harassing former Jowzjan governor Ahmad Eshchi. Presidential Palace had announced that the NUG would investigate claims of assault by First Vice President and his men. In an August 11, 2016 speech in Kabul, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah had criticized President Ashraf Ghani for taking unilateral decisions on various issues including the appointment of ministers. He accused President Ashraf Ghani of not implementing the power-sharing arrangement, his failure to hold a Loya Jirga and amending the constitution to create the position of prime minister. The deadline for implementation of the agreement brokered by Secretary Kerry that formed the current coalition government was September 21, 2016; but nothing has so far been done in this regard.
President Ashraf Ghani perhaps feels that with the amendment of the Constitution, he will become only figure-head of the government. According to reports, the Taliban control 41 of Afghanistan’s 407 districts. At this point in time, when the Taliban groups are uniting, and ISIS gains some foothold in Afghanistan, the conflict between the Unity Government partners is fraught with dangers. Several Taliban leaders, that had parted ways with the Taliban following the appointment of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as emir, have rejoined the Taliban. Having that said, Afghan government cannot succeed if it continues to pamper India and blame Pakistan for providing sanctuaries to Haqqani group militants. In fact, the Taliban have support base from North to South, and also inside Afghan police and army, and the Afghan forces cannot match their prowess and dedication.
