News Analysis |
The U.S forces in Afghanistan have scaled back their contact with the Afghan security personnel stationed inside the base and called back all the international troops stationed at outposts. The development has come after the security squad of powerful police Chief General Abdul Razik Achakzai opened fire and killed him in the process. The intended target, as per the statement of Taliban who took the responsibility of the attack was the U.S General Scott Miller.
He narrowly escaped the assassination attempt. A senior Afghan military officer, stationed at a joint base with foreign forces, said that American troops “have been ordered not to visit the Afghan side of our base for a few days, but we can visit them on their side.” The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue, also said the “joint control and command center is active.”
Owing to the complex nature of the problem, there needs to be a deliberate effort to formulate and reshape the entire security paradigm of Afghanistan.
After General Scott Miller escaped the assassination attempt and a highly decorated Afghan security personnel died, the speculations across the social media inside Afghanistan spread about a plausible U.S conspiracy. The conspiracy theory led to the death of another Czech soldier in Herat province when an Afghan soldier opened fire— falling prey to the propaganda on social media which was repeatedly shunned by Afghan security higher-ups.
Earlier, the Resolute Support headquarters in Kabul said initial reports indicated the attack was carried out by a member of the Afghan security forces. It had not released the nationality of the service members. The Czech ministry said in a statement that the two injured soldiers had been taken to Bagram military hospital and did not face life-threatening injuries. The attack was on a vehicle; it said but gave no further details although a spokeswoman said the incident occurred on a base.
Read more: US general wounded in last week’s Afghan insider attack
The attacks from insiders wearing Afghan uniform have led to the death of nearly 155 the U.S and coalition soldiers and wounding another 200 since 2008. While the pattern is on the decline since 2012– when most no of such attacks happened– its existence poses a serious question about the undefined lines of insurgency and relative aptness of Afghan troops to combat the threat themselves.
Though the U.S has made multiple efforts in the past toward the capacity building of the Afghan National Army and Police, multiple incidences have exposed the vulnerability which cannot be predicted. For instance, despite increased background checks and extra security for the foreign troops placed outside the secure premises of the base, the incident like Herat is clear depiction that the threat cannot be taken out of equation whatsoever.
Thin and Ambiguous Lines between Friend and Foe
These attacks are the clear illustration of the precarious security situation in Afghanistan where even the men wearing the uniform cannot be trusted. In certain instances, there are the Taliban moles inside the Afghan troops who are designated to carry out activities as per the directions.
The Czech ministry said in a statement that the two injured soldiers had been taken to Bagram military hospital and did not face life-threatening injuries.
But over the recent years, as the scrutiny of the recruits was tightened, the factor has drastically decreased. But even for the normal Afghan soldiers, since the basic education and the ability to differentiate the fact and the propaganda is quite low, falling prey to the rumors about the foreign troops is quite easy.
The constant threat of the Afghan insurgents when coupled with the dubious nature of the men fighting against them, make the scenario increasingly difficult for policymakers, both military and political ones, to formulate a long-term plan.
Read more: Afghan forces search for Taliban fighters after major attack
Owing to the complex nature of the problem, there needs to be a deliberate effort to formulate and reshape the entire security paradigm of Afghanistan. While the focus is on the negotiations between the Taliban and the U.S, the real question of the incompatibility of the Afghan troops to hold the security reigns of the country once the foreign troops leave is not being answered, not worked upon.