AfghanNews.net - “Have Your Say”

The Senlis Council published a very interesting and noteworthy report about Afghanistan. The Senlis Council is an international policy think tank with offices in Kabul, London, Paris and Brussels. The extensive programme currently underway in Afghanistan focuses on global policy development in conjunction with field research to investigate the relationship between counter-narcotics, military, and development policies and their consequences on Afghanistan’s reconstruction efforts.

The report gives us not only an idea about the current political and economic situation in the country but also the reasons behind the recent rise of Taliban in some parts of the country. The report is also critical of the U.S. policies which have encouraged Taliban to muster support among the people in the southern provinces. A large number of Afghan population is still facing economical hardships in spite of huge foreign aid which was channelled to the country after the collapse of Taliban regime five years back.

If the situation didn’t improve and the current half-hearted policies fail to deliver then it’s very possible that the rise of Taliban will continue not only in the south but throughout the country.

The complete report can be read by clicking on the link below:
http://www.senliscouncil.net/modules/publications/014_publication

Afghan and coalition forces fought heavy battles to retake two districts in southern
Afghanistan captured by Taliban militants, expelling the rebels from one by evening, officials said. 

The events in the past days showed that things are changing very rapidly on the ground. Taliban militants seized control of two towns in southern part of the country and according to the latest news, Afghan and coalition forces took control of only one town after very heavy fighting. The recent developments are a source of headache and concern for all the parties involved in Afghanistan including the U.S. and the NATO. Today the NATO officials are visiting Kabul to discuss their strategy in coming weeks and months.  

If the western countries are really committed to tackle the issue of Taliban, then they should increase the number of their forces in the southern part of the country, asks Pakistan to stop giving shelter and support to Taliban and increase the amount of aid to speed up the reconstruction pace to improve the socio-economic conditions of common Afghans.  

The capture of two towns should be an eye opener for those forces who wants to keep Taliban at bay in Afghanistan.  They have still time and resources to win not only this war but also the hearts and souls of Afghans.

U.S.-led coalition forces killed about 50 suspected Taliban militants in an airstrike on a rebel stronghold in southern Afghanistan, a spokesman for the force said Monday. Residents claimed dozens of civilians were killed.

I'm not sure if all of those killed were so-called Taliban rebels or innocent civilians. Since the village was bombed during the night, it would've been difficult for American forces to distinguish between innocent civilians and Taliban rebels. Such indiscriminate attacks will have a negative effect and it plays into the hands of Taliban. These bombings will make more enemies than friends for American and their coalition allies.