The security situation in Afghanistan is getting really serious and it is very important to consider the situation seriously so as to be able to have a better election that is going to be held only after a couple of weeks. The Taliban insurgents have become so much bold and active that they are not afraid of targeting even the most guarded places and they have become so cowardly that they are not afraid of targeting the civilians more frequently now. They intend to disrupt the coming presidential elections which they have clearly mentioned in their recent messages and, at the same time, they want to show their strength during the process of transition, so that they must not be understood as defeated.
The attack on Kabul Serena Hotel on Thursday, March 20, showed that Taliban have no mercy to civilians and they would take every possible step to help the situation deteriorate in the country, particularly in the capital Kabul. The deadly attack on Serena hotel was carried out by four gunmen, who are alleged to be teenagers, and the incident killed 9 people and wounded 5 others. The dead included both national and international citizens. The international citizens included two women from New Zealand and Canada and two men from Pakistan and India, while the 5 national citizens included a journalist with his two children and wife. An Afghan MP, Habib Afghan was also injured in the incident and he is in the hospital now.
The incident clearly shows that Taliban have no consideration regarding the killings of innocent civilians and even women and children. Though on various occasions they have claimed to be harmless to the civilians, their actions have shown otherwise. Unfortunately, in response to the growing ferociousness of Taliban, the government has only welcomed them warmly to peace talks. It is really unclear that why government had kept on insisting that Taliban would turn to negotiation, though they have vehemently rejected all the offers.
The other aspect of the incident is also very tragic and that is the fact that the attackers were teenagers. This clearly shows how Taliban have been able to use innocent children and youngsters for their heinous purposes. The youth who should be hopes of bright and better tomorrow are used by Taliban to fuel the fire of growing extremism and terrorism.
Nobody would need to expose the violent nature of Taliban as they themselves have clearly shown through different ways. The incident in Faryab last week that resulted in the death of about 20 innocent civilians and now this incident manifest their true picture. And then a news report on Saturday said that nine people, including civilians, were killed in separate incidents in northern Badakhshan and southern Kandahar province. According to the news report insurgents stormed a police check-post on the Fiazabad-Yaftal highway, sparking a gun-battle that left five attackers dead and two others wounded on Friday evening and in Kandahar, three civilians were killed when their vehicle hit a landmine in the Shah Walikot district this morning.
These gloomy reports show how insecurity and terrorism have been threatening the lives of the common people in Afghanistan. The common people, after suffering from decades of war and bloodshed deserve a relatively peaceful life. They have given so many sacrifices and now they hope that they would have tranquil life in the times to come. However, there is no guarantee that their hopes would turn into reality.
The common masses in Afghanistan must bother about the deterioration in security as they are basically the ones who have been suffering and may suffer to a further extent if instability and terrorism prevail in the country. It is really pathetic to see the civilians losing their lives when they have nothing to do with the war. In the economically unstable and war-torn country like Afghanistan, people have not only suffered the hardships of the poor and miserable lives but also the horrors of war. They have been killed mercilessly as if their lives do not have any value or meaning and it is important to see that the Taliban are mostly behind the demise of the poor civilians. It is really unfortunate to note that they still remain powerful enough to conduct their merciless efforts to target the civilians in addition to the Afghan and international forces.
Different attacks, bombings, shootings and suicide bombings of the vicious guardians of the so-called holy war have only been able to target the children, women and non-military figures. With the presence of such facts, it is weird to find Taliban calling themselves friendly to Afghan people.
They have been trying to develop an image of caring and affectionate body that is trying to liberate the people of Afghanistan from the Western forces. But the fact is just on the contrary. They just want power and for that they will never hesitate to sacrifice the poor Afghan people. If they come to power, it is evident that Afghan people will never have peace, contentment and above all their due rights.
The innocent people of Afghanistan deserve that the Afghan government and the international community must ensure to them a better future. They need to make sure that the post transition period in Afghanistan will be a period that can give poverty stricken Afghan people security and basic requirements of living; provide them better representation and participation in political and social life and make them capable of governing themselves peacefully.