A large number of attacks over the weekend in Afghanistan has only grown worse as of Monday, with reports of districts falling in several parts of the country’s north, and the Afghan military suffering “huge casualties” in the fighting.
After heavy fighting in Baghlan, the Taliban is now moving into Jawzjan and Sar-e Pul, leading provincial officials to warn that a collapse is imminent without reinforcements, and substantial territory could fall to the Taliban very soon.
All of this has the Afghan parliament standing up and taking notice, but their ability to get any information out of the security chiefs is in serious question, as the ministers of Defense and Interior, along with the NDS chief, refused a parliamentary summons Monday to discuss the situation.
This led to renewed calls for all three officials to resign, something they had recently offered to do, only to be refused by President Ghani. MPs complain that these officials refuse to be held accountable, and that refusing to talk to parliament is not acceptable.
While officials are shrugging that off, saying they were busy with the security crisis, there is talk of the parliament having a discussion as soon as Wednesday on impeaching all three. Efforts by MPs to show seriousness on the security crisis are seen particularly important ahead of next month’s vote.
Good to see the patriots winning.
The Afghan TET?
It looks more like the 1975 Spring Offensive that ended the war with South Vietnamese collapse. Tet was a widespread attack that failed, and Spring 1975 was a widespread attack that won.
You’re making me feel hopeful. Perhaps the Taliban will drive the US out despite all Trump can do, and he will then take credit for implementing his policy of withdrawal.
Sure am glad after 17 years we’ve got the Taliban on the run. What a triumph for American arms and foreign policy.
The significant bit that Ditz forgot to mention: the Taliban are sweeping through North Afghanistan. The north Afghanistan that’s not even Pashtun, let alone the Hotak Ghilzai tribe that’s always formed the Taliban core. The north Afghanistan that is populated by Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Hazara who used to be anti-Taliban. And the Taliban are storming through the area, because even the Shia Hazara are now joining the Taliban.
That’s what seventeen years of American occupation has done to Afghanistan: converted the Taliban from a despised tyrannical regime to national resistance heroes.
Once again, congratulations are in order, America.