The deadly story of Ghaziabad district of Kunar province still has remained veiled in the curtain of vagueness. It is not unclear how long it may to take unearth the truth behind the incident which was the most deadly attack on Afghan National Army, the loss of 21 soldiers just within few hours late last month. The incident sparked huge criticism among civilians and officials alike. President Karzai canceled his pre-plan travel to Sari Lanka, Ashraff Ghani Ahmadzai one of the leading presidential candidate also branded the murder of soldiers as the raid on honor (Namus) of the entire nation. (Honor actually holds weigh in Afghan culture and also reflects a distinguishably sensitive concept. At the family level, honor refers to close female relatives, like sister, mother and wife. It circle increases with the circle of extended families, community, tribe, ethnic groups and ultimately nation. Major part of social and family fabric can be interpreted based on this very concept. Any Afghan who feels that his honor is infringed will not come short at any cost. Therefore, when any girl escapes from her father’s home will not be accepted back by the family irrespective of fatherhood and motherhood bondage. Many get killed because of violating the very honor sensitivity).

Similarly, human and civil society activists organized protest. Many were protesting against President for not showing enough resolve against Taliban and like-minded groups. President Karzai has frequently called Taliban as dissent brothers and showed no hesitation in releasing prisoners who according to Afghan and foreign intelligence services were highly dangerous. Meanwhile he never took his words back and consistently asked militants to give up the armed struggle and join his government, however without any result.

Though the incident has not left Afghan media but the release of two of the abducted soldiers revealed part of the suspicious incident.  They confirmed the reports about the infiltration of Taliban militants within the lines of Afghan soldiers. Previously, General Azimi, the defense ministry spokesman blamed the intelligence of neighboring country, saying it had hands behind. While National directorate of Security officials said that military officers were informed about such possible attack. In so, these are right why cautious steps were not held for their protection.

There are issues that continually scratch the back of mind. So, why military officials did not care about the information shared by National Directorate of Security. Based on information shared in media, their phone calls were hacked talking to Taliban leaders and sharing information with them. Despite such documents they were neither arrested nor put under security watch. Rather they were deployed in the most dangerous province where Taliban militants exercise power. Though some military commanders were sacked but that is not enough. If they had such information and did not hold measure to stop such a deadly attack, they are accomplice to guilt of Taliban and should be brought into justice.

Additionally, the two abducted soldiers who were released by the mediation of local elders, named Khairuddin and Mir Aqa confirmed that they were aware of their contact with Taliban. The question is why despite such authentic and accurate information, they all slept without considering cautious measures. Additionally, Taliban attacked and killed 21 soldiers. They abducted six of them. Now four of the abductees were infiltrators of Taliban militants who, according to Khairuddin and Mr. Aqa, were greeted by Taliban leaders and surnamed as “Ghazi” which refers to those who hold jihad but return alive. Based on the Islamic Shariah, they hold a very special status in the front of Allah Almighty.  Meanwhile, however their release was widely appreciated by different layers of the society, it remains as unanswered question that why Taliban had not hurt them. How on the earth, Taliban spare the lives of two soldiers who had not links with them and on account they agreed to release them? Will the concerned departments ever dare to release all due information regarding the incident?

There is one thing for sure that Taliban militants showed no mercy in killing soldiers who serve their country. The information shared yet also reflects that soldiers were sleeping and got killed before resisting militants. In other words, they were not killed from a long distance while opening fire against enemies rather got killed while sleeping perhaps from close distance perhaps around few meters. So, how they could spare the live of six and shot everybody else? So, I hope further investigation should made which would reveal the suspicion around the incident.

The second issue is the issue of NATO aerial support. NATO officials confirmed that they were requested for urgent aerial support and they also responded on due time. So, why no measure was taken while reportedly two hundred militants made their way back from Ghaziabad District? President Karzai has banned the NATO air strikes and also obliged Afghan security forces to avoid asking for any NATO air power at any condition which also strained bilateral relation with United States. In case, if due to the same political ban, NATO support was not asked then it should also be made clear to the people. But if the call for support was made as NATO officials told, then why no single bullet was fired from air support which otherwise makes quick response.

Therefore, the release of Khairuddin and Mir Aqa provide dependable information about dark aspects of tragic incident.