Denouncing Reconciliation, Reintegration
Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, continues to experience problems with his cabinet choices. The Afghan parliament is concerned that many of President Karzai's choices simply reflect those of the old cabinet, many of whom were corrupt, were tribal chieftains with blood-stained hands, and they expressed their lack of confidence in those choices by refusing them. The second round of candidates did a little better than the initial ones.And on Monday fourteen members of President Karzai's controversial new cabinet were scheduled to be sworn into office. And it is certainly likely that this ceremonial occasion stimulated the Taliban to prove yet again that they are capable of infiltrating the most heavily guarded government institutions at will, enabling them to wreak death and destruction as they will.
And when, on Monday, suicide bombers simultaneously attacked several government ministries they were a stone's throw from the presidential palace. Little wonder that Afghans in general have scant trust in the government's capacity to keep them safe from harm. For four hours Taliban suicide bombers assaulted Kabul's most heavily guarded Pashtunistan Square.
The location, in fact, of heavily guarded government ministries along with the Central Bank and a popular hotel for foreigners with money. A multi-storey shopping centre was set on fire. The attackers succeeded in striking at the justice, finance, mines and education ministries. Afghan commandos, soldiers and police, including special anti-terrorism squads responded quickly.
Three soldiers, two civilians and a child were killed, and 71 people wounded. The seven suicide bombers died; five gunned down during the attacks, the remaining two committing suicide. This was the Taliban leadership's response to the U.S.-sponsored and Afghan-wishful proposals for reconciliation with moderate Taliban, along with the promise to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
"The world community and the international forces are trying to buy the Taliban, and that is why we are showing that we are not for sale", announced a Taliban spokesman. Message received.
Labels: Political Realities, Religion, Terrorism, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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