In survey, recently conducted in America, 40 to 50% of American respondents have said that US forces met failure during their long presence in Afghanistan. According to this survey, Washington could not reach its objective and failed in its counter-terrorism mission in the country. However, just 38% says that US gained victory in Afghan war. A number of journalists and civil society activists say that the Americans’ missions was self-centered within more than a decade of war and the US failed in both , counter-terrorism and narcotic drug operation.

Meanwhile, it is said that the Al-Qaeda Network intends to attack on the US. The American intelligence network predicted that presently there are 28000 Al-Qaeda militants in Syria. This report shows that Al-Qaeda and religious extremists grow continuously and their eradication seems impossible.

Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants have changed into a global threat. These political pawns are encouraged by the ideological and financial support of some radical parties based in different countries. They are brainwashed in religious madrasahs and are sent to kill themselves, with the hope of reward in paradise. Killing human beings, no matter whether Muslims or non-Muslims, has changed into a religious duty in their fundamental ideology. I remember the polished manners , ironed and perfumed clothes of a suicide bomber who , some years ago exploded himself in a Mosque on a Friday, which is considered a Holy Day for Muslims, in Quetta Pakistan. Many Muslim worshippers were killed on the spot by the explosion. His formal and new clothes demonstrated his preparation of going to paradise.

Radicals’ sinister faces are behind a religious façade. The religious beliefs and moral values which are the hallmark of Taliban are too sacrosanct to be criticized or questioned. Their sanctimonious behavior and a veneer of virtue are beguiling enough for the credulous Islamic believers. They wear the solemn face of the clergy and religious leaders. Whoever violates their laws, will hardly ever survive death. They claim to be the savior of Islamic societies and to guide them to the right path!

The religious dogmatism of the radical groups is a threat to our country. The innocent Afghan people are being victimized collectively and lose their lives in daily acts of murder. Recently, the insurgencies are on the rise and our police persons and people are killed and injured in daily explosions and suicide bombings.

To talk about the sentimental and sensational, the gruesome human carnage, the blood oozing from the deep wounds of innocent children, the tearful eyes of broken-hearted mothers, the henna-handed brides mourning over the loss of their newly-wed husbands, the aged women groaning over the demise of their sole bread-winner, the nauseating smell of humans’ body burnt in the explosions, all melt the hearts stone.

The sacrilegious acts of the religious radicals, especially that of planting the explosives inside the Muslims’ Sacred Book, demonstrates total inhumanity. Attacking the Holy places such as Mosques and Churches is not only against Islam but also against all religious law. Respecting the religious beliefs of people, irrespective of their sect and religion, is emphasized greatly in Islam. Of course, whoever kills people without rhyme or reason deserves to be punished severely in the eyes of the law and religion.

Regarding moral standards, the religious militants are totally bereft of such blessing. Their shameful notoriety about sexual abuse of children in madrasahs, and brainwashing children and sending them to the battlefield to die, bespeak of total immorality.

Now, the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan is the big issue. The pro and anti-American ideas are expressed by our politicians. Demonstrations were launched to protest or support the presence of foreign forces beyond 2014. Mostly, the religious groups and religious extremists express pessimism about the presence of foreigners in the country. Moreover, President Karzai has avoided signing the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA). Karzai thinks that the Americans had a hand in the recent bombings in Afghanistan.

I respect Mr. Karzai’s ideas. As a president, he has access to greater information. Of course, American troops killed a lot of Afghan civilians and the incident of Kandahar will not be erased from the minds of Afghan people. In the same way, some years ago it was once disclosed that foreign forces carried armaments to Taliban militants by helicopters at nights. Then US officials said that it was mistakenly sent to them. Wasn’t their reason ridiculous? Hence, policy is a complicated issue and one does not know what games are being played behind the scene. The recent increase in terrorist acts also rouses mistrust. Therefore, a question arises about why insecurity has increased in spite of the help of foreign forces?

On the other hand, the release of Taliban prisoners, especially from Bagram prison, also affected the security situation negatively. This action of Mr. Karzai led to tension between Washington and Kabul. The US officials regard the released prisoners dangerous .They were captured red-handed in murdering Afghan police and civilians and foreign forces. In this case, American officials were right. If Afghan civilians are killed by US operations unintentionally, however, many others are killed by Taliban militants. Why did the Afghan President release them irrespective of their past evil record?

So, who has been successful during the two decades? I can confidently say that neither the Afghan government nor US forces were successful within the last decade of our democratic experience. The challenges such as terrorism, narcotic drug and administrative corruption are as insurmountable as ever. Don’t you think that the sincerity of both the Afghan and US officials are under question?

As the presidential campaigns have been started, I hope that the candidates will not have to make false promises to their nation. They are supposed to talk with full honesty regarding their presidential work-plans.