Kandahar Offensive: A Marvelous Show of Power by the Taliban

It had just been five days into the death of Al-Qaeda founder and leader Osama Bin Laden on Saturday that Taliban put to show a spectacular exercise of influence in the southern strategic city Kandahar apparently to avenge the death of their comrade, leader and financial pillar. Taliban militants launched their offensive deep inside the city walls and as close as to the Governor’s residence, Provincial assembly, main markets and other key locations inside the city. They fought the Afghan National Army Units, National Police Units and Border Forces fearlessly for four days and sporadic skirmishes continued in the town areas until the three terrorists were finally brought down in the Kandahar hotel though the governor had called even the day before as ‘a day of calm and peace for Kandaharis’.

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Warning of their spring and summer offensive, the Taliban had declared open war against the Afghan and International forces with the onset of spring season. Kandahar offensive, according to analysts, had been planned much earlier and just launched in the wake of Bin Laden’s death to raise the morale of Taliban foot soldiers. Enhancing the Taliban strength particularly in this operation has been the marvelous escape of 481 prisoners from the Kandahar central prison just days before this offensive. Most of these escapees are believed to have rejoined Taliban ranks and have taken part in favor of Taliban in this operation. The operation “Badr” as Taliban name it, referring to the first fight in history between the nascent Muslim community of Medina and the pagans of Mecca around 624 AD, was the first direct face to face fight since the ouster of Taliban regime in late 2001.

While political, defense and military analysts continued to debate the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of this offensive on different platforms for the last three days; the Wolasi Jirga (lower house of the parliament) has essentially remained silent over the issue throughout. However, the day before yesterday saw a very heated debate over the issue in the senate where the senators strongly demanded of the governor to submit his resignation without any further delay. They further urged the President to take notice of the lapse in security and intelligence sharing.

Not very differently, analysts believe Pakistan’s notorious ISI had a direct role in this event. They believe one factor as to why ISI would take direct part in such operations is to divert the attention of Pakistani masses to Afghanistan and show them that the major chunk of Taliban and their influence are in Afghanistan and not Pakistan. It’s also launched at this time to make headlines and brush off all headlines leading to the shameful death of Bin Laden under the nose of Pakistani military forces close to their bases in Abbotabad.

After the death of OBL, it was believed that the Taliban leadership would grow weaker and their morale will be lower than ever before. However, these latest events have shown that the Taliban somehow have grown stronger and could challenge the writ of the government anywhere they wish and any time they wish particularly in the southern and south western provinces. In fact, the execution of such an operation by a defeated, decentralized and hated group under such circumstances as facing the world powers is exemplary and credit should be given to the architects of this offensive. This is neither to praise them for putting at risk the lives of innocent civilians nor for the harsh attitude they have towards a civilized society but to acknowledge the efforts, dedication and devotion to their cause, though most may call them unfounded and ill.