As India celebrated its 75th year of Independence on 15th August, 2021 Democracy in Afghanistan was choked to death. History will always look at Afghanistan in amazement and try to curiously seek answers to questions like how can a democratic country with a full fledged army fall into the grasps of insurgents like a house of cards? Where were the country’s President and top politicians when their people needed them the most?

The longest war did come to an end but did it make the lives of Afghanis peaceful? It did not. In approximately two months since NATO and the U.S. Forces started their complete evacuation after twenty of occupation, provinces and their capitals were taken by the Talibans at such a swift pace that shocked the whole world. 

Are the Mujahideen and the Taliban the same?

The Taliban are not the same as the Mujahideen who were fighting the Soviet Army till 1989. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the Taliban or the “students” used to manage Madrasas (religious schools), Sharia Courts, and any dispute that arose between people. So Clergymen, Maulvis and WarLords of different provinces joined them and these Talibans or “Students” were themselves from all over the country. From 1990 till 1995 these Talibanis used to manage disputes that arose from fighting between the Mujahideen and WarLords. Mullah Omar gained massive support in Kandahar and people rallied behind him and the Taliban for the first time in twenty years (before U.S. invasion) became a powerful force in Afghanistan.

How did the Taliban gain territories so rapidly?

Taliban are the indeginous people of Afghanistan formed mostly by the Pashotoon, unlike the Mujahideen of the 1970s who were formed by fighters across the globe, especially the Middle East. So when Taliban gained control of Kabul in 1996 it declared Afghanistan as an Islamic Emirate overthrowing Burhanuddin Rabbani, an ethnic Tajik whom the Taliban viewed as anti Pashotoon. It then imposed Sharia law under Mullah Mohammad Omar the amir al-mu’minin, or “commander of the faithful.” Hence what it fought for against the Mujahideen which was civil liberties, women rights, child abuse and freedom all was lost when it gained power. This is what the Afghan population fears that the Taliban will end the civil liberties of the citizens. 

When U.S. led forces invaded Afghanistan in pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre in the USA and the leader of al-Qaeda it toppled the Taliban regime within days. Since then the leaders of the Taliban have matured and understood the political game. 

Look Taliban did what the Ghani government was unable to do i.e. to convince the WarLords with money or power. Ismail Khan the Warlord of Herat, Atta Mohammad Noor, Abdul Rashid Dostum of Mazar-ae-Sharif all fell under the Taliban. While Ismail Khan “the lion of Herat” stayed back in Afghanistan for some forceful photo-op, Dostum and Noor fled across the nearby Uzbek border. Here the Afghan Security Forces are also to blame because they lack sufficient training and their strength is also less than the 300,000 surfacing the internet. The senior army officers of the Afghan security forces would appoint “ghost officers” or officers that exist only on paper. 

Capturing Kabul.

Since June, when the NATO and US forces started evacuating in large numbers, the Taliban insurgents started capturing provinces around Kabul. This includes Mazar-ae-Sharif in the north, Herat is the west, Kandahar in the south and Jalalabad in the east. On 15th August the insurgents encircled the capital and around 2pm they entered Kabul where other insurgents of the organisation were waiting for them. With this development President Ashraf Ghani left the country making Amrullah Saleh, the V.P. of Afghanistan the President in accordance with the Afghani Constitution. The insurgents occupied the Presidential Palace and released pictures from inside the house.

Who will rule Afghanistan?

There are many questions that need to be answered to reach a conclusion. It is unclear whether the Qatar delegation of the Taliban will conduct an election or choose a leader with mutual consent. On 17th August, 2021 Abdul Ghani Baradar reached Afghanistan in Kandahar after twenty years. If the Taliban will choose a leader to lead the country it will be Abdul Ghani Baradar. Amir Khan Muttaqi (higher education minister of the last rein of the Taliban) also reached Kabul from Qatar on Tuesday. 

If by any stroke of luck the country goes to poll then Abdullah Abudullah who led the High Council for National Reconciliation may become the new President or Amrullah Saleh may continue as the President. 

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in his first press conference from Kabul spoke of women rights and said that the civil liberties of every citizen will be respected as provided under the Sharia Law. Another statement released by the Taliban read that “general amnesty has been declared for all” and that all persons should return to work and lead their normal life. However there is fear among the citizens especially women who had lived through the Taliban regime of the 90s. 

Developments in the next few months will tell how far will the Taliban go to cleanse its image.