The Taliban’s evil practices in Kunduz have outraged the public conscience. They have violated their own ideological claims – i.e. “bring in the Islamic law” and establishing religious tenets on the surface of earth. The shaky faith of the Taliban ideologues and mercenaries easily succumb to worldly temptations. Their fundamental and impious deeds have transcended humanity and ethical codes.

The Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah said that insurgents do not recognize religion, nation or tribe and that they kill people indiscriminately. He further said that no one has the right to justify crimes committed by the Taliban. He accepted the government’s shortcomings in the fall of Kunduz, saying that a number of circles within government – knowingly or unknowingly – justify Taliban’s crimes. “It will not be allowed to justify the Taliban’s crimes. We all know that terrorism does not know religion, nation or tribe. It is unfortunate that their crimes are justified from the government’s tribune,” Abdullah is quoted as saying.

With the foundation of democratic government, Afghan nation hoped to breathe a sigh of relief in a society void of violence, racial and sexual discriminations and in a free society where they could exercise their rights and dignity without political and social turbulence. In other words, with the fall of the Taliban’s regime, Afghans looked ahead to be freed from violence and bloodshed imposed by the Taliban outfit. In a nutshell, they dreamt to live in a utopia – far from political, social and economic plights.

Ill-fatedly, democracy is highly susceptible to political instability. The “war on terror” was proved abortive. Despite a decade of counterinsurgent strategies, Afghanistan is still embroiled in terrorism and militancy. In another term, a decade and half has past from the collapse of the Taliban’s dictatorial regime, however terrorist acts continue unabated. The rights and dignity of Afghan men and women are trampled upon by insurgents in the worst possible way. Reports say that some women, including doctors and prisoners, were raped and children were employed by the Taliban when Kunduz was captured last month – this was a slap not only in the face of democracy and freedom but also in the face of humanity. So, the nascent democracy is not a panacea for the bleeding wounds of our nation.

Kunduz, a city of 300,000 and capital of the eponymous northern province, was the first urban center taken by the Taliban since their ouster by the Americans in 2002. The Taliban’s capture of the city has fueled speculation that US-trained Afghan security forces will be unable to secure the country as the remaining 9,800 American troops move toward full withdrawal by 2017. U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has not reversed his position, however, that the Afghan military is on track to secure the country. Earlier this year, he described the Afghan security branches, which are composed primarily of army, national police, and informal local police units, as “a powerful force in their own right.” He also believes the Afghan military can perform many of the specialized functions needed to secure the country and defend it from a Taliban takeover.

However, the Taliban insurgents have compounded their inroads into the country under the leadership of Mullah Akhtar Mansour. His appointment led to splinter group among the Taliban. He chose fractious attitude towards Afghanistan so as to persuade his opponents to pledge allegiance to him. The Omar’s family, which initially disagreed with his appointment as Omar’s successor, pronounced loyalty to him but Mullah Dadullah denied doing so. Hence, Dadullah shows tendency to the Islamic State (IS) group – which seeks foothold in Afghanistan and poses a serious threat to the country’s security situation.

Afghan officials also believe that the Taliban insurgents are supported in one way or another. Reports say that Police officials in Karachi city of Pakistan have arrested a group of terrorists from a hospital who had fought in Afghanistan.

A local newspaper quoted news published by Pakistan’s private news channel on October 5 that Inspector General Sindh Police Ghulam Hyder Jamali has said that several terrorists wounded in Afghanistan were arrested from a hospital in Karachi where they were being treated.

Afghan leaders have said in numerous occasions that terrorists fighting in Afghanistan are being treated in Pakistan. They have asked the country’s authorities to stop supporting and treating them. According to the National Directorate of Security, Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Omar was also admitted to a hospital in Karachi where he died in April 2013.

It must be noted that an insecure Afghanistan will pose a threat to the entire region. For instance, if the Islamic State group holds a firm foothold in Afghanistan, the neighboring countries will not be safe from the poison it spews forth. War and militancy is really epidemic, as it is being experienced. As a result, the IS was established to usher in militancy and terrorism in Iraq and Syria, but it is spreading with the passage of time.

Anyhow, the scandals perpetrated by the Taliban insurgents in Kunduz were highly appalling. The rape victims were disgraced and the residents were hurt mentally, physically and emotionally. So, one will conclude that the Taliban follow no moral principle and commit human and humanitarian rights flagrantly. In short, their ideology is empty of ethical mores and social and religious values.