The truck drivers who risk their lives everyday in Kabul have a singular important question; why can’t the Americans stop this? Once again Taleban are gaining grounds in Afghanistan and are zeroing in on Kabul. This time they are not confronting or attacking NATO forces directly. They are simply using historic time tested strategy of cutting the supply routes to NATO forces. All trucks carrying supplies to Kabul by road are becoming increasingly vulnerable to rocket attacks by guileful Taleban.In past one week, 13 trucks have been destroyed by Taleban rocket launchers. Truck drivers carrying petrol and Pepsi to NATO troops, who escape narrowly, are witness to such attacks.
Its been seven years since US led coalition toppled Taleban. There are some 70,000 foreign troops on ground in Afghanistan. But yet Taleban has managed to get stronghold just outside Maydan Shar, the capital of Wardak province, 20 miles southwest of the capital. It is from this Wardak base the militants are operating on all important supply routes and roads to Kabul. These include Kabul-Khadahar and Kabul-Pakistan via Jalalabad routes, the important arterial roads in the region.
This is a historic war tactic used two decades ago against the Soviets and before that against the British in 1841. Afghan army and government refuses to acknowledge this new strategy of Taleban. They claim they are still in control. But ground reports, attacks on supply convoys, aid workers, troops and claims by Taleban spokesperson clearly indicate that Taleban are applying historic strategy of beseiging all routes to Kabul to regain total control. Afghanistan’s rocky terrain has always helped local Taleban to launch such sudden attacks.
There is no immediate answer to the question of the truck drivers. Afghanistan has been a difficult battle for US and its allies largely due to terrain, extreme weather and Taleban operating from bordering countries like Pakistan.The local Afghanistan government and army have not been able to help in uprooting Taleban and Al-Qaeda totally. US intentions are still a suspect in this land largely dominated by conservative muslims. Troops haven’t won total trust of local people. And very little development work in the region is infact helping Taleban to recruit new militants from frustrated local villagers.The use of rocket launchers and modern weaponary shows there is no dearth of fund, expertise and support from Arab countries.
On the other hand, America has been vocal about pulling out of Iraq and sending more troops to Afghanistan. So, battlelines and strategies are becoming more clear. Both sides want a win. The role of US and allies, Afghanistan government and Pakistan will be very crucial if at all a peace process is initiated. Or else Afghanistan war may end up as most bloodied war in the history of the world. Unfortunately, neither diplomacy nor Peace, but only war and violence will be a winner once again.
source: timesonline
Comments
The US will of course leave any country it invades, like a greedy wolf that kills but doesn’t eat everything. And leave the remains of the carcass to the waiting hyenas. The same thing will happen to Afghanistan, Iraq and any other country it decides to invade in the future.
Cutting supplies is definitely a clever strategy used by the Taliban and they know it works.
These Afghan truck drivers represent the real human suffering.. Caught between the wolves from the American land, the devils from the Taliban department, and also hunger, misery, poverty, and a need to earn money and provide bread to their hungry children waiting for their safe arrival.
The present Afghan and Iraqi governments are a farce.
Yes, Jaiyant, I can’t even imagine how the days and lives of truck drivers must be like...being behind wheels knowing very well that the a rocket launcher might be targetting the truck...
Has it all become too easy? It looks like a PC game now...too easy to target, too easy to kill, too easy to attack and counterattack...
No one seems to be thinking about innocent lives dying in the crossfire.
Afghanistan is Taliban’s playground. They know every nook and cranny there. Even the US does not know what the Taliban knows.
If the Taliban isn’t half as drugged as they are, they can easily wipe out the Western forces in Afghanistan.
The Taliban subsists on taxes paid to them by Afghanistan poppy farmers (upwards of 10% levy). Wouldn’t it be a better strategy for the Western forces to cut this source of Taliban funds rather than flattening the country?