Terror revisits Kabul as a coalition military convoy is blown up, killing at least 17 armed personnel. The attack comes as a deadly blow to the efforts of the foreign contingent that for long have been cautiously planning their routes and movement.
The daredevil manner in which the Taleban are tail-teasing the US and the ISAF troops is a worrisome equation, and goes on to point out the inroads the militia has made in the security and administrative apparatus of the ?war-torn country.
This coupled with a wave of other high-profile attacks, including the one that killed former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, is making the southwest Asian country instable to the core, and even after nine years of jingoism and misadventures peace and prosperity is no where in sight. It often seems the country has leapt into an era of revenge activities, wherein the militia, namely Al Qaeda and the like, are busy settling their scores and a glance at their modus operandi points out such a trend. Moreover, garrisons and government installations are now well within the reach of Taleban, and this aspect has buoyed them to the core. It has inadvertently had an impact on the bargaining capacity of the Pakhtoon militia that has conveniently settled down to demand for a complete exit of the foreign forces before any meaningful talks could be initiated, if any, with any of the stakeholders in Afghanistan.
The off and on security somersaults in Kabul and elsewhere simply remind the point that the US strategy, in this part of the world, is yet to get a kick-start. It is unworkable to say the least. Not only has it been a failure in terms of destroying and eliminating the militia, but has capitulated when it comes to negotiating a deal of sorts. Repeated overtures to woo the Taleban have fallen on deaf ears, and rather the initiative has gone into regroup many of the splinter components. The Haqqani network that for long had been in shadows is now out in a formal nexus with the Taleban, and has categorically said that it would accept parleys if they are brokered through the Pakhtoon militia.
With the pullout phase just round the corner, Pentagon, Brussels and Kabul need to share their notes and ensure that a peaceful transition takes place. The politics of violence has to be discouraged and the best way to do that is to engage the stakeholders in a ?purposeful interaction.
(Courtesy Khaleej Time)
The daredevil manner in which the Taleban are tail-teasing the US and the ISAF troops is a worrisome equation, and goes on to point out the inroads the militia has made in the security and administrative apparatus of the ?war-torn country.
This coupled with a wave of other high-profile attacks, including the one that killed former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, is making the southwest Asian country instable to the core, and even after nine years of jingoism and misadventures peace and prosperity is no where in sight. It often seems the country has leapt into an era of revenge activities, wherein the militia, namely Al Qaeda and the like, are busy settling their scores and a glance at their modus operandi points out such a trend. Moreover, garrisons and government installations are now well within the reach of Taleban, and this aspect has buoyed them to the core. It has inadvertently had an impact on the bargaining capacity of the Pakhtoon militia that has conveniently settled down to demand for a complete exit of the foreign forces before any meaningful talks could be initiated, if any, with any of the stakeholders in Afghanistan.
The off and on security somersaults in Kabul and elsewhere simply remind the point that the US strategy, in this part of the world, is yet to get a kick-start. It is unworkable to say the least. Not only has it been a failure in terms of destroying and eliminating the militia, but has capitulated when it comes to negotiating a deal of sorts. Repeated overtures to woo the Taleban have fallen on deaf ears, and rather the initiative has gone into regroup many of the splinter components. The Haqqani network that for long had been in shadows is now out in a formal nexus with the Taleban, and has categorically said that it would accept parleys if they are brokered through the Pakhtoon militia.
With the pullout phase just round the corner, Pentagon, Brussels and Kabul need to share their notes and ensure that a peaceful transition takes place. The politics of violence has to be discouraged and the best way to do that is to engage the stakeholders in a ?purposeful interaction.
(Courtesy Khaleej Time)