KABUL (Tolo News): The new wave of violence engulfing the country–now especially in the north–compelled some lawmakers to call for the formation of a “high council of combat” led by various prominent leaders from around the country as well as politicians in order to fight the Taliban.
The lawmakers said the government has lost control of managing the war and to defend the country the government should mobilize influential mujahideen leaders and public uprising forces. The speaker of Parliament and some lawmakers emphasized the importance of a national consensus under the current situation and said the government should consider the value and participation of all ethnic groups when it comes to appointments in security agencies.
“There were forces, there were arms, and there was morale, but the morale was killed, unfortunately,” said Fazl Karim Aimaq, an MP from Kunduz. “The government should be asked why districts have been handed over without resistance,” said Belqis Roshan, an MP from Farah. “The government has unfair views toward the people and regions. Another reason (behind the fall of the districts) is the removal of experienced figures from the system,” said Habiba Danesh, an MP from Takhar.
The legislators stressed the need for a national mobilization against the Taliban. “The Taliban offensive, the launch of a psychological war and the complication of the internal crisis have made us deeply concerned,” said Mir Rahman Rahmani, the parliament speaker. “Six districts belonged to the first regiment. The commander is not there,” said Razi Mangal, an MP from Paktia. “Our shallow leaders should manage the war, they are outside the country as the people are killed,” said Sadiq Qaderi an MP from Herat.
According to MPs, the support of neighboring countries for the Taliban is one of the reasons behind an escalation of violence in the country. “There are countries that want to cause Afghanistan’s system to collapse so they can divide it into different countries and merge it with their own country,” said Shinkai Karokhil, an MP from Kabul. “Pakistan wants to keep the war here fueled and wants to continue this proxy war,” said Nasir Farahi, an MP from Farah.
The government said that new plans are have been formed to boost security. The reshuffling of positions in the security agencies is said to have been part of this plan. Earlier, lawmakers and military experts said there is an urgent need for a unified perspective on both the war and the peace process among politicians within and outside the government to overcome the current crisis, adding that otherwise, reshuffling posts of security institutions will not prove effective.
Lawmakers said the management of the war is key and suggested that the government needs to review its plans for the war. In just two days, President Ghani appointed new acting ministers for the defense and interior affairs ministries and four deputy ministers for the ministry of interior affairs.
Abdul Rahman Rahman was appointed as senior deputy minister of interior for security, Wahidullah Kalimzai as deputy minister of interior for counter-narcotics, Mohammad Farid Afzali as deputy minister of interior for training, and ex-Faryab governor Naqibullah Fayiq as the deputy minister of interior for policy and strategy. “Individuals’ abilities and capacity should be used for security without considering who belongs to what ethnic group or political party,” said Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, the deputy speaker of the Afghan senate.
“The changes should strengthen the security structure in this critical situation,” said Arif Rahmani, an MP from Ghazni. “One person is appointed one day and another the other day. This itself deteriorates the situation,” said Mohammadajan Mangal, a Senator.
Others believe that coordination among Afghan forces should be boosted to overcome the deteriorating situation. “They should better protect remaining districts that are contested or where soldiers are under siege,” said Khadija Ilham, an MP from Kapisa. But President Ghani and security chiefs have pledged that the changes in the leadership of the security and defense agencies will address the current crisis.
“We can overcome all the problems that have been imposed on us,” President Ghani said. “I am starting my job by using my experience from the resistance time and recent serving in the security and defense forces,” Acting Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi said. Ghani in a speech warned that “if the Taliban want enmity than they will face a serious response.”
