Afghanistan needs help to defeat groups like Daesh

The past week has been catastrophic for Afghanistan. Over 250 people have died in terrorist attacks in various parts of the country, the latest being Friday’s suicide bombings on two mosques killing over 70 people, mostly civilians. Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack on a Shia mosque in the western part of Kabul where at least 56 people were killed as the suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the midst of some 100 worshippers. The violence comes even as the US ramped up drone strikes against the militants in tribal areas on either side of the AfghanPakistan border. So, are the insurgents getting better at it or are the country’s defenders failing more often? Whatever may be the reason, the attacks have underscored the group’s operational capability. Daesh is now a force to be reckoned with in Afghanistan while they are losing ground in Iraq and Syria, their terra firma. The attacks have also exposed the Afghan security system’s incapability to counter threats even with the US help. Such attacks threaten the country’s fragile economy and weigh down on society and infrastructure. They also affect the external support on which Afghanistan depends, not only to build up defence capabilities but also to prop up the government of Ashraf Ghani.

With the rise of new terror outfits, and social media helping to accelerate dissemination of the ideology and violence, Afghanistan cannot be left to disintegrate. Increasing the number of American boots on Afghan land alone is not an answer to the crisis. While Donald Trump can maintain a troop presence to back up the Afghan National Security Forces, Washington should coerce neighbouring Pakistan to help bring stability to the country. The long-term answer to terrorism in Afghanistan is international help to reform its society through education, to build infrastructure and to rein in rampant corruption. A confident, civilised, healthy and self-sufficient populace will stand up to any evil threatening to undermine its existence.