KABUL, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Exactly 11 years ago today after the deadly attacks on the twin towers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 and a year after al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces in Pakistan, the al-Qaida-backed Taliban militants are still staging attacks in Afghanistan, targeting Afghan as well as NATO forces.
The continued failure of the U.S. military and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to wipe out armed fighters loyal to the Taliban and al-Qaida network has dented the trust of Afghans in the ability and credibility of the military alliance in bringing the war on terror to final victory.
"The U.S.-led Coalition has poured thousands of troops to Afghanistan as part of its so-called war on terror but for the past 11 years it has failed in its avowed mission," Faizullah Jalal, a political observer here, told Xinhua.
Jalal, a Kabul University professor, said that the killing of Bin Laden by the U.S. military in Pakistan did not result in diminishing the militants' capability to sow terror, adding that in fact, both the Taliban and al-Qaida network, like what they have done for the past 11 years, continue to kill Afghans and NATO troops through ambuscades and suicide attacks.
"In my opinion the messy situation, the suicide attacks, bombings and killing people by Taliban and al-Qaida operatives would not stop in Afghanistan unless a miracle happens," Jalal said.
The devastating Sept. 11 attacks paved the way for the stationing of thousands of U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan and eventually led to change of regime in Kabul.
Under a military campaign which began in October 2001, the U.S.- led Coalition forces had overthrown the Taliban reign and evicted al-Qaida operatives from Afghanistan within weeks.
Police question pair over PKU performance art