Crumbling under guns: An overview of the situation in Afghanistan

by Dhruv Mishra

Ever since the emergence of what began as a rebel group during the Soviet occupation, The Taliban has been linked to many infamous terror activities, most important of which was 9/11 in New York, USA. Follow the attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan and as it is in the works of leaving the country after about 20 years of occupation. At the time of writing this article, the terrorist faction has gained control of key cities: Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul, and Taloqan.

The Taliban are advancing in gaining control over the country, having captured more territories in the last 2 months than they have since they were driven out of power back in 2001. US troops and their Nato and regional allies forced the Taliban from power in November 2001. The group had been harboring Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda figures linked to the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US.

 

But despite a continued international presence in the region, billions of dollars of support and training for the Afghan government forces, the Taliban regrouped and gradually regained strength in more remote areas. Their main areas of influence were around their traditional strongholds in the south and south-west - northern Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan, and Zabul provinces. But also, in the hills of southern Faryab in the north-west and the mountains of Badakhshan in the northeast.

 

A BBC study in 2017 showed the Taliban were in full control of a number of districts. But the research also showed they were active in many other parts of the country, mounting weekly or monthly attacks in some areas, suggesting significantly higher strength than previous estimates.

(Source: Mapping the advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan - BBC News)

Military equipment, weapons and armored vehicles in the captured cities have been seized by the Taliban. The US has sent its B-52 bombers to hit targets around the crucial cities of Kandahar, Herat, and Lashkar Gah. The airstrikes have begun after the Afghan Ambassador to the UN, Ghulam Isaczai said that Afghanistan is prepared to provide the United Nations Security Council with evidence supporting its claim that Pakistan is ensuring a supply chain to the Taliban.

Thousands of civilians have been displaced this year. Families, including babies and young children, have been sheltering in a school in the north-eastern city of Asadabad.

 

"Many bombs were dropped on our village. The Taliban came and destroyed everything. We were helpless and had to leave our houses. Our children and ourselves are sleeping on the ground in dire conditions", Gul Naaz told AFP.

 

"There was firing, one of my seven-year-old daughters went out during that fighting and disappeared. I don't know if she is alive or dead," another displaced resident said.

There is an urgent need of strategy and quick action by the UN and major militaries of the world to ensure the Taliban don’t topple the Afghanistan Government and the long lost peace is somewhat restored in the war-torn nation.