Security in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly with both coalition and Afghan forces are finding it extremely difficult to erase Taliban from the war ravaged country. Recent reports of Taliban attacks and successes in the south and west of the country have proved that Islamic fundamentalists are more powerful than ever. The stagnant progress of the impoverished country has certainly helped the radical group in launching a propaganda war and gaining support from deprived population.
Over the past week, the Taliban have captured three provincial districts, the latest being a district centre in Day Kundi province in central Afghanistan. This is certainly a moral victory for Taliban fighters despite the presence of coalition forces. Insurgents are able to gain ground and stamp their authority in many parts of the country.
According to an unofficial survey, six years since the fall of the Taliban, the group has a psychological and de facto military control of nearly half of Afghanistan. With this, it becomes evident that the poor Afghan people are again caught between two warring forces. However, it must be admitted that the international community has failed to win the hearts and minds of the ordinary people.
With the increasing daily kidnappings, murders, suicide bombings, ambushes... the Taliban fighters are able to exert fear among foreign aid workers and putting intense pressure on the participating countries to withdraw their forces from Afghanistan. Foreign troops are engaged in constant battles rather than working for the economic and security improvement of the country. With the rise in civilian casualties, Afghan people are starting to question the ability of the international community to bring peace to their country.
The Iraq war has certainly aided the Taliban as many international and Arab Jihadi groups have joined hands to launch an all out attack on US and coalition forces in the country. The situation in Afghanistan is undoubtedly complicated with a gradual decrease in public support for the Hamid Karzai government.
The Taliban, by capturing important districts, have been able to prove to the Afghan people that the current government is weak and corrupt and does not care about the safety of its people. As of now, the fundamentalists are winning the propaganda war and are all set to surmount even further attacks once the harsh Afghan winter sets in.
