Kunduz was the first province the Taliban captured after their ouster from power in 2001. In a massive show of strength, the Taliban took over control of the northern strategic city of Kunduz in September 2015, and were able to hold it for three weeks. In addition to the Taliban and Afghan forces, tens of civilians suffered casualties in the attack, and thousands of families were forced to flee the city for safety. Afghan forces backed by international troops finally purged the city of Taliban, and recaptured it. The insurgents launched another multipronged attack on the city in 2016, but this time they were able to capture only some areas, leaving the residents of the city without basic amenities, including shortages of food and drinking water. The militants are again trying to repeat their mistake. On Friday night, the rebels attacked Kunduz city from four sides, and claimed taking control of some areas from Afghan forces.
The Taliban know as proved their first experience of the capture that they cannot hold the city for longer, yet they do not give up. The result of the takeover of rural areas, if they are unable to keep, is nothing but just killings, bloodshed, destruction and spread of terror among people. The Taliban’s offensive to capture the city will again leave massive civilian casualties, pave the way for the looting and destruction of public and private property, and force the innocent residents of the city, who are have no link to the belligerent sides, to flee their homes.
While the US-Taliban peace talks are in the final stage, the Taliban’s attacks on urban centers are only meant to show their strength and solidify their position. Such onslaughts may help the Taliban to gain some concessions, but they will definitely widen the gap and strain their relations with the very people they want to govern. They will augment hatred among people towards the Taliban and their ideology, and can also carry the risk to threaten the progress made so far in peace talks. The Taliban should not forget that they need public support and public institutions if they are to rise to power again. Thus, they should stop killing their own people, and destroying public buildings which have been constructed partly with donor funds.
