Security remains a challenge 9 years since Afghan war

Although the Taliban regime was driven out of power nine years ago, security has remained a daunting challenge in Afghanistan and the Taliban-led militancy would continue to haunt Afghans for the years to come.

It was exactly nine years ago on the same day October 7, 2001 when the U.S.-led military coalition dropped its first bomb on Taliban regime's spiritual capital Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

Dubbed "Operation Enduring Freedom" the U.S.-led military campaign with the involvement of other NATO-member states and non- member allied nations had overthrown the Taliban regime in a few days but failed to ensure lasting peace in the war-torn Afghanistan.

Failure of the alliance to arrest Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar and his guest Osama Bin Laden, the alleged architect of 9/11 attacks on the United States, has created doubt about U.S.-led forces' ability to win the war.

Continued security problems in Afghanistan, according to observers, have led to constant increase in the strength of NATO- led troops in the militancy-ridden country.

Today, over 140,000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is stationed in Afghanistan to tackle militancy and ensure security there.

However, observers are of the view that the Afghan problem would not be solved alone in Afghanistan unless and until the legitimate interests of regional countries and all stakeholders are taken into account.

The certain stakeholders, according to observers, are supporting Taliban to keep on militancy in Afghanistan.

"In fact, a proxy war among rival powers is going on in Afghanistan. Iran is opposing the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. India and Pakistan are also wrestling there. And so, many more countries are vying for their interest in Afghanistan," Afghan analyst Wahid Mujda with the country's Research Center for Strategy Studies, observed.

The Afghan government often advocates for targeting Taliban sanctuaries outside Afghanistan, a reference to Pakistan, while Islamabad rejecting the claim says the Indian consulate in Kandahar is involved in subversive activities in Pakistan's Balouchistan province.

Taliban militants also in a statement released to media to mark the 9th anniversary of U.S.-led invasion on the Taliban regime once again insisted for Jihad or holy war against U.S.-led forces based in Afghanistan.

"Considering defence of the territorial integrity of the Islamic country and Jihad against the invading Americans as an Islamic obligation, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name of ousted Taliban regime) advises the confused American rulers: come to yourselves and have mercy on your people by immediately pulling out of Afghanistan," the statement said.

Although, today is peaceful and Taliban militants have carried out no major attack on October 7, the NATO-led military alliance has lost 563 soldiers with the majority of them Americans since January 2010 while the whole causalities of alliance in the war on terror in 2001 was registered 12 service members.

Security in Afghanistan would remain a challenge for both Afghan and NATO-led forces and so the Taliban-led insurgency would continue to haunt Afghans for the years to come.

Source: Xinhua