Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) are the mainstays of stability in Afghanistan. It is the armed forces that voluntarily risk their lives to defend the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establish and exert government’s rule in every corner of the state. Similarly, it is the operation and behavior of these forces that determine the nature of bonds between the government and the masses. If the citizens view the armed forces as their own, they will also own the government; however, if there is a trust deficit between them, nothing on the part of the government can then reverse the distrust.
Unfortunately, the attitude of security forces sometimes alienates people than win their hearts and minds. In some instances, the security agencies do not act as if the protection of the lives and property of the people is their responsibility. As an example, Afghan forces bulldozed a number of civilian houses in the Sayedabad district of central Wardak province a few days ago. Regardless of the reasons behind the move, the destruction of residential houses is under no circumstances justifiable. In a poor country like Afghanistan, people have to sweat blood to build a house as it requires a lot of money, time and other resources. Afghan people battered by conflict and corruption struggle to find food, let alone have the money to construct a shelter.
To achieve enduring stability in the country, it is extremely necessary for ANDSF to treat the citizens professionally. Government leaders, especially security officials, must not underestimate the consequences of maltreatment of people by security forces, as well as their unruliness. The continuation of such improper behavior will widen the distance between people, and government and the security forces, and can then gradually turn into hostilities. When people stand against security agencies, the chances of survival of the regime dwindle. Before the irresponsible and unlawful behavior of the security forces further widens the distance between the government and people, the government leadership must swing into action to purge ANDSF especially their leadership of the unruly and troublemaking elements. Only individuals who consider the defense of the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity as their national duty can serve in ANDSF, and there is no place for those who are misusing the uniform of brave security and defense forces and taking the law into their own hands.
