World leaders must think that the Taliban are not the only claimants to Afghan power, there are many more such groups in Afghanistan who are also fighting to achieve the seat of power. According to media reports, several countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, are going to recognise the Taliban regime in Kabul. Although the Taliban toppled the Afghanistan government and seized the power, they are yet to form their government on a democratic basis.
The country’s president has fled. The vice president, however, is in the country and is now a legitimate claimant to power. If the Taliban want to assume power, they have to take it from the reins of the vice president who has already claimed that he is the legitimate heir to the throne. Nevertheless, his claim is true and constitutional.
Those who want to recognise Afghanistan under the dominance of the Taliban are encouraging a structure that is undemocratic and unconstitutional.
If the world community wants real peace and stability in Afghanistan, it must take the initiative to negotiate with all groups in the country. In addition, the Taliban must be spared some time, so that they assume their true colours.
Meanwhile, several reports are claiming that the violence against women has increased in the country, and some reports even suggest that women are being stopped from going to work. Moreover, Taliban fighters are forcibly marrying young, and in some cases, minor girls.
Former Afghan judge Nazla Ayubi recently said that Taliban fighters in northern Afghanistan are forcing women to cook for them. And if that cooked food is bad to eat, they are being burnt to death. He said this in an interview with an American media outlet.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people in Afghanistan over the last few days,” he said. For the past few weeks, Afghan girls have been trafficked to other countries in coffins, he added.
Meanwhile, Shabnam Khan, the presenter of Radio and Television Afghanistan, was not allowed to enter her office. She has been told by the Taliban administration that she could not continue working under the Taliban regime. In an interview with a local media outlet, Tolo News, social worker Fariha Acer said, “Afghan women will not give up their right to education, work, and participation in politics so easily.”
It is important to look at whether the ceasefire and the declaration of peace is the real face of the Taliban or is it just an attempt to evade the vigilance of the international community.
Myriad reports claim that several young militants from China, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have joined the Taliban in Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul. This also happened during the Soviet Union’s presence in Afghanistan, when a large number of young men from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan went there with military training and became involved in terror activities.
Meanwhile, the opposition groups have begun protesting against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s Baghlan province. On Friday, forces loyal to former vice president Amrullah Saleh liberated three districts in the north-central Afghan province from the Taliban. On Friday, the opposition forces, after fierce fighting, recaptured Banu, Pul-e-Hisar, and De-Salah districts in Baghlan province adjacent to Panshi, a report said. At least 15 Taliban fighters were killed in the clashes, while several others were injured. The report claims that Saleh’s loyal fighters have reached near the capital. Even after the fall of Kabul, Saleh said, the fight against the Taliban would continue.
On Wednesday, anti-Taliban forces seized several areas, including Charikar, the capital of the central-northern Parwan province. Abdul Hamid, commander of the anti-Taliban forces in Baghlan province, said on Saturday, “We will soon occupy some more areas in northern Afghanistan.” Meanwhile, Ahmed Masud, an influential Tajik leader from Panjshir province, has already joined hands with Saleh. The number of fighters loyal to Masud in the Panshi area is about 10 thousand. Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president and warlord of northwestern Afghanistan, is also in the alliance. Yer Muhammad Dostum, the eldest son of the Uzbek leader, is said to have joined the fight against the Taliban with about 6,000 loyalists as well.
Military observers say that the capture of Parwan and Baghlan provinces could cut off communication between the capital, Kabul, and Taliban forces in Mazar-e-Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan.
