Afghanistan suffers, no one cares

We don’t know who did it, yet. The Taleban, Al Qaeda and Daesh, the usual suspects haven’t claimed responsibility for Wednesday deadly attack in Afghanistan. Some group will soon take credit for this horrible deed. They will gloat and taunt the West over the bloodshed. Revenge, vendetta, justice, the perpetrators will say. They were Mujahiddeen, freedom fighters when they fought the Russians, who they sent packing in the early eighties. Those fighters turned terrorists have shaken the foundations of a flawed American and European invasion that happened in 2001. They have transformed and mutated into violent extremists, and there appears to be no end to this vicious terror campaign. Who are they targeting? Ordinary folks. Fathers, husbands, mothers, sisters, brothers and children. People like you and me. Like us. When will this all end? How many lives can 8,000 US troops and 5,000 Nato military personnel protect? These forces are not interested in saving Afghanistan. They never were.

They are doing their best to save face as their governments are losing stomach for a fight. The country is no safer now than after the massive Western invasion 16 years ago. The blast which killed 80 people in Kabul’s diplomatic enclave, was one of the biggest tragedies in recent memory. The attack was intended to sow fear in the minds of the community whose troops strength has dwindled. Afghanistan may have an elected government, but one-third of the country is still controlled by terror groups — which speaks a lot about US plans to build institutions in a country which is tribal in instinct. Now that foreign troops are on their way out, terror groups are spreading their tentacles. They are striking at a time and place of their choosing because they are unafraid to die for a worthless cause. Not just that. Western intelligence has failed in Afghanistan and security is in a shambles. The generals in Kabul will cry foul and ask for more troops to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of Afghans. Worse, some governments will be tempted to talk to terror groups designated as bad, good and moderate. That would be a fresh recipe for disaster.