Roundup: Security problems top Afghan gov't challenges in 2015

As with previous years ongoing security incidents have remained of the utmost concern for Afghan civilians and government officials in the year past, with the resurgence of militancy, failed peace talks and forced migrancy all taking their toll this year on the already war-torn country.

Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power, in addition to halting peace talks with the government in 2015, have also pushed for war and briefly captured the strategically important northern Kunduz city along the border with Tajikistan in late September.

The militants have also gained grounds in other provinces and overrun some districts in parts of the country.

Similarly, 2015 has proved a test for the ability and professionalism of Afghan national security forces in the wake of the end of the combat mission of the NATO-led forces in Dec. 2014 and the departure of the majority of foreign troops stationed here.

Now bearing the brunt of the war on terror, the Afghan security forces have faced security threats and have foiled the warmongering plans of the Taliban and like-minded outfits across the country to capture territory.

Major attacks launched by Taliban militants in 2015 included briefly capturing Kunduz city from Sept. 28 until Oct. 13, overrunning districts in northern Badakhshan and neighboring Takhar provinces, conducting several suicide attacks across the country and capturing the Khanshin district in Helmand on Dec. 8.

The Taliban loyalists also launched a massive offensive on Kandahar airport on Dec. 7 and the latest violent offensive targeted a foreign guesthouse in the Shirpoor area, a diplomatic enclave in Kabul on Dec. 11, which left more than a dozen dead and injured.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said recently that the anti-government militants' successive attempts to create two political geographies and parallel administrations in 2015 have been thwarted by Afghan national security forces.

INCOMPLETE PEACE TALKS

The Afghan government, as has been the case over the years, has frequently offered to hold peace talks with the Taliban militants, but all in vain as the hardliner armed group has linked holding peace dialogue with the withdrawal of NATO-led forces from the war-torn country, a precondition that was refuted by Kabul.

Nonetheless, following desperate efforts by the Afghan government approaching major powers and stakeholders in the Afghan-linked quagmire, including Pakistan, the first-ever face to face talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban were held in Murree 100 km from Islamabad.

However, the Taliban's new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor following confirmation of the death of former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on July 30 named himself as Amirul Momenin (commander of the faithful) in early August, lashed out at the proposed peace talks as a meaningless practice and vowed to push for war.

However, Mullah Omar being succeeded by Akhtar Mansoor has divided the Taliban group, as Mullah Omar's family challenged Mansoor's leadership as being illegitimate and called for his resignation, a demand that was dispelled.

Mansoor desperately trying to remain as Amirul Momenin prompted Mullah Mohammad Rasoul, a close aide to Mullah Omar, announcing himself as Amirul Momenin some six weeks ago in the western Farah province and since then several clashes have been reported between Mansoor's supporters and his opponents in different provinces, which have claimed hundreds of lives, according to local media reports.

EMERGENCE OF ISLAMIC STATE (DAESH)

In early 2015, villagers in the southern Zabul and eastern Nangarhar provinces reported the surfacing of a new band of armed militants carrying a black flag and challenging both the Taliban and the government's presence in certain areas.

The newly emerged Daesh group in a series of battles against Taliban and government forces have gained ground and strengthened its foothold in isolated areas of the countryside.

According to local officials, Daesh fighters have shifted their families to the Deh Chopan and Khak-e-Afghan districts of Zabul province, the Burka district of Baghlan and parts of the northern Badakhshan province where the government's control is slim.

Fragmentation within the Taliban and the emergence of the so-called Islamic State or Daesh, according to Afghan political observers, has further complicated the Afghan peace process.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

The continued militancy, increasing security incidents, natural disasters, high rate of unemployment, poverty and impoverished economy have led to fading hopes for a better future among Afghans and prompted many to leave their militancy-plagued country for developed countries especially in Europe in a quest for a peaceful and prosperous life.

Some 150,000 Afghans, mostly younger generations and educated people, according to officials with the country's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, have migrated predominantly to Europe, in search of a peaceful life.

A powerful magnitude-7.2 earthquake also struck major parts of Afghanistan in 2015 resultantly leaving more than 150 dead, nearly 500 injured and rendering hundreds others homeless.

Describing 2015 as the toughest year in the history of Afghanistan, President Ghani vowed recently to spare no efforts in ensuring lasting peace and economic stability in the country. Endit