04-29-2008, 04:08 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Taliban on the rise</b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
<b>If Karzai is unsafe, what about others?</b>
The prospects of peace are fading in Afghanistan, which is most unfortunate. While it remains important to bring stability to the region, the situation is deteriorating, as has been made clear by the attack on President Hamid Karzai. Though the attack at a military parade at which the President was officiating failed, it was brazen and left three dead. The parade, which was to showcase the Afghan Army's new training and equipment, had been planned for weeks and security was at the highest levels. Yet, the Taliban, armed with modern weaponry, were able to get within 500 metres of the stage. At the end of the 21-gun salute, they sent the President and the other dignitaries scrambling for cover. The Taliban, in this manner, have been able to score a propaganda point, undermining faith in the Karzai Government's ability to provide security for itself or for the people of Afghanistan. While it is a sharp reminder to the people of Kabul that the Taliban are not a spent force, the ordinary Taliban fighters will feel emboldened to carry out more such attacks. The incident shows how the Taliban are now able to operate comfortably in Kabul, besides penetrating deep into the heart of Afghanistan. Interestingly, the parade was to mark the victory of the mujahideen over the Russian-backed regime. This had led to several years of intense civil war in Afghanistan at the end of which the Taliban, with their radical Islamic ideology, had been successful. They themselves had been ousted in turn by the US-led coalition in the aftermath of 9/11. Under Mr Karzai, there began a new phase of democratic nation-building. Hiding for years in the shadowy mountainous belt on the borders of Pakistan, the Taliban, nonetheless, never gave up and kept on fighting the multinational forces pitted against them.
For many years since their ouster, the Taliban were on the run. Yet, when the international focus in the war against terror shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq, this relieved the pressure on them. This has allowed them to regroup and renew their offensive. Over the last few years the Taliban have shifted tactics. They are no longer on the run, and have intensified their fight against more than 50,000 foreign troops. Having suffered casualties in head on fights, they have relied more on suicide bombings. They have also begun to concentrate more on Kabul. In this situation, it is important for the US-led coalition forces to give more attention to Afghanistan in their efforts against the war on terror. It is also unfortunate that New Delhi has not paid enough attention to what is happening in its extended neighbourhood. It must comprehend the threat posed by the Taliban and react accordingly.
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
<b>If Karzai is unsafe, what about others?</b>
The prospects of peace are fading in Afghanistan, which is most unfortunate. While it remains important to bring stability to the region, the situation is deteriorating, as has been made clear by the attack on President Hamid Karzai. Though the attack at a military parade at which the President was officiating failed, it was brazen and left three dead. The parade, which was to showcase the Afghan Army's new training and equipment, had been planned for weeks and security was at the highest levels. Yet, the Taliban, armed with modern weaponry, were able to get within 500 metres of the stage. At the end of the 21-gun salute, they sent the President and the other dignitaries scrambling for cover. The Taliban, in this manner, have been able to score a propaganda point, undermining faith in the Karzai Government's ability to provide security for itself or for the people of Afghanistan. While it is a sharp reminder to the people of Kabul that the Taliban are not a spent force, the ordinary Taliban fighters will feel emboldened to carry out more such attacks. The incident shows how the Taliban are now able to operate comfortably in Kabul, besides penetrating deep into the heart of Afghanistan. Interestingly, the parade was to mark the victory of the mujahideen over the Russian-backed regime. This had led to several years of intense civil war in Afghanistan at the end of which the Taliban, with their radical Islamic ideology, had been successful. They themselves had been ousted in turn by the US-led coalition in the aftermath of 9/11. Under Mr Karzai, there began a new phase of democratic nation-building. Hiding for years in the shadowy mountainous belt on the borders of Pakistan, the Taliban, nonetheless, never gave up and kept on fighting the multinational forces pitted against them.
For many years since their ouster, the Taliban were on the run. Yet, when the international focus in the war against terror shifted from Afghanistan to Iraq, this relieved the pressure on them. This has allowed them to regroup and renew their offensive. Over the last few years the Taliban have shifted tactics. They are no longer on the run, and have intensified their fight against more than 50,000 foreign troops. Having suffered casualties in head on fights, they have relied more on suicide bombings. They have also begun to concentrate more on Kabul. In this situation, it is important for the US-led coalition forces to give more attention to Afghanistan in their efforts against the war on terror. It is also unfortunate that New Delhi has not paid enough attention to what is happening in its extended neighbourhood. It must comprehend the threat posed by the Taliban and react accordingly.
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