KABUL - Senators in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) on Tuesday stressed the need for a full review of security in Kunduz city, urging government to identify officials who might have been negligent in terms of securing the city.
They called on government to launch an investigation into the Taliban' siege of the city this week and to punish those guilty of negligence.
Amid a dramatic surge in Taliban offensives against major towns, the senators warned that security situations will further deteriorate in Helmand, Kunduz and Uruzgan provinces unless government takes action.
"The fall of Kunduz means the fall of five northeastern and nine northern provinces," said senator Mohammad Alam Ezidyar.
"A number of check posts are under siege there and there is a lack of food and equipment for soldiers there," said first deputy of senate speaker Farhad Sakhi.
"Millions of Afghanis have been embezzled, but no outcomes achieved," said senator Afzal Shamil.
The Taliban increased attacks against some strategic towns in Uruzgan, Baghlan, Faryab and Helmand provinces this week.
This comes as the country's leaders report back to the international community at the Brussels Summit.
"ISI (Pakistan's intelligence service) has ordered the Taliban to flock to Helmand and fight," said senator Sher Mohammad Akhundzada.
"Last time the Taliban attacked provincial headquarters and similar attacks were launched on police compounds," said senator Mohammad Hanif Hanifi.
"The president himself is also one of the reasons of the insecurity and bloodshed in the country," another senator Hashim Alokozai said.
In recent weeks, Taliban insurgents have been trying to take the war into major towns in several provinces across the country in their bid to take control of provincial capitals.
The statements come a day after insurgents over ran the main square in Kunduz city for a second time in a year which critics regard a major setback to the Afghan government. (Tolonews)