Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, April 19th, 2024

Ethnicity—Recruitment—Militants

On Friday, Jan. 20, four French soldiers shot death by an Afghan soldier on a base in Kapisa province about whom yet no critical information publicized. There is no information at disposal about him and his motivation for shooting French soldiers. The only thing yet reported is: he was arrested and is under investigation, but the result may not be released as part of military cliché tradition.

It was not the first incident in which Afghan soldiers shoot their foreign colleagues. Time and again, it is heard that an Afghan soldier, a police officer or those wearing military and police uniforms have shot death foreign engaged forces.

For several of such incidents, Taliban-led militants have claimed the responsibilities and talked about infiltrates within the security establishment. The attack was the deadliest for French soldiers since 2001, and raised the toll 82 during past ten years.

Right after the incident, however, Mr. President reacted and expressed his regret over the incident, but seemingly French people may not be relieved with simple excuses. Mr. President Nicolas Sarkozy suspended military training and assistance for Afghan security forces and called for early withdrawal.

It is not clear whether yet whether he French soldier leave the country before 2014, deadline set for completion of international force withdrawal, or not, but the statements of Mr. President show his deep disappoint of Afghan government.

As noticed, though it was not the first incident. So, the questions raised: why the political and security officials have remained unable to find a solution? Why there is no report about arrest of militants' infiltrators? And do soldiers remain unaware of suspicious move of their fellows for that long that they succeed in holding the operation, say for instance, shooting French soldiers? These are the questions Afghan officials have to take notice and find the answers.

Here is one all stakeholders should alerted about. That is recruitment on the basis of ethnicity. There is consensus about the percentage of ethnic groups, but yet, for example, Hazaras are not recruited more the ten percent in the military as well as police Tashkil.

Annually, thousands of students participate in military national academy entrance exam, but many with higher marks are dropped out because he belongs to Uzbek, Hazara. While, in some other provinces, only participation in the exam guarantees recruitment in because the share of that particular ethnic group is not completed!

This is absolutely a destructive policy and also paves way for Taliban to infiltrate and deal severe blow to foreign forces, and prestige of Afghan government. Hope officials take least notice, but they quite possibly may not because here communal lines have remained bolder then ones between government and its armed opposition.