The Taliban once again showed it had the power to mastermind senseless killings of innocent people as Kabul was rocked by three explosions. The first explosion hit a bus carrying Afghan army officers while the other targeted a bus carrying commerce ministry officials. The third hit an army convoy. A British soldier was also killed.



A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Taliban has been active in the south and west of the country.



It is regrettable that ever since the occupation of Afghanistan by the erstwhile Soviet Union the country has known no peace.The Afghans, brave and friendly people, have been made to bear unthinkable suffering.



After the Soviets left, a civil war broke out, which lasted for many years, between the satraps of different regions. Following it, the hardline Taliban came to power. Again the Afghans had to go through the trauma of war. It imposed the harshest possible Islamic code of conduct particularly targeting women. Basic civic amenities were next to nil, even to the extent that the people had to sleep on an empty stomach or do without medical aid.



Then the US-led forces declared war on the Taliban which saw the President Karzai take over a civilian government. But it has not seen an end to the war in the country. It may not be overt but it certainly is covert. Innocent people are dying by the day. Peace and reconstruction of the country are still a long way off. Certainly after decades of violence the Afghans deserve a better deal