International Affairs Thursday 30th October, 2008 11

official from the non-governmental Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) said on Saturday. On the same day three more men were kidnapped. All three men were Turkish citizens and they were working on a The Afghan govern- communications project in the Eastern region of Khost. On October 26 the ment will immediate- claimed responsibility for the “ kidnapping of 17 employees of a con- ly have to implement struction company in Kunar. The short-term policies to Taliban said that the employees would only be released once the U.S funded shore up security in road-building project is abandoned. As mentioned earlier, the current major cities. Local domestic political climate with the reshuffling of key ministerial positions governance and law may in fact have led to the current and order have to be spike in violence. It is important to note that all violent incidents could not be improved in order to accredited to the work of the Taliban. Some of the kidnapping and the reduce the levels of killings could be attributed to militia groups that have connections to local kidnappings and politicians and other criminal gangs killings. The perpetra- that are motivated by a variety of per- sonal interest. The rationale for the tors of these crimes cabinet reshuffle was cited as the incompetence of former ministers. have to be brought to Thus, it is imperative for the govern- ment to show that the reshuffling of justice. For the longer ministers will yield positive changes. If term security issues Atmar, the new interior minister, does not bring the security situation under plaguing the country, control in the near future, there could be severe implications both for the cur- there would have to rent administration and the future sta- bility of . be dialogue and rec- In the short term, if Atmar brings onciliation with the security under control by clamping down on criminal elements that oper- Taliban. Michael ate in Afghanistan, it will vindicate the move made by President Karzai in Scheuer, the former removing Zarar Ahmad Moqbel, whom many outside observers and Afghans head of the CIA’s viewed as an incompetent and corrupt Osama Bin Laden civil servant. President Karzai hopes to Afghan demonstrators shout anti- Taliban slogans during a protest of this week’s execution of 26 young benefit from such changes with the group, explained the men from their community who were killed by Taliban militants in Maiwand district of province in prospect of his re-election approaching in 2009. However, if the security situa- current situation in the south, in Materlam the provincial capital of Laghman province east of , Afghanistan, Friday, Oct. tion is not controlled or if it further 24, 2008. The unprecedented protest in the eastern Laghman province is one of the largest anti-Taliban deteriorates it would hurt the credibili- Afghanistan as being gatherings since the fall of the hard-line Islamist regime following the U.S. invasion in late 2001. (AP) ty of both Atmar and President Karzai. “infested with every- thing from the Taliban and Al Qaeda New Wave of Kidnappings on the insurgency side, to bandits and warlords to narcotics traffickers. So you’re and kilings grips Afghanistan really fighting a beast with 100 heads”. The Kabul Diary decrease in hostilities during the win- spokesman for the Taliban denied that It would also possibly strengthen the by Shakya Lahiru Pathmalal ter season. the movement was responsible for the In the most recent of such killings, attack and said that he did not know view that the current government elect two foreign workers were gunned down who was behind the shooting. The is no longer able to control the security here has been a spike in both kid- by one of their own security personnel Taliban traditionally have been respon- situation. nappings and assassinations of on Saturday morning. According to sible for most attacks of this nature, The Taliban for its part have been Tforeign nationals and local resi- responsible for some of the kidnap- sources, the security guard, after shoot- however different groups comprising dents in Afghanistan. Many foreign ing the victims, later turned the gun on criminal gangs and local militias may pings and assassinations. The Taliban residents believe that the security situ- himself. According to police sources have instigated the new wave of vio- not only continue to inflict a heavy toll ation of the country has deteriorated in on both NATO and Afghan forces, but ” the circumstances behind the attack lence. This only complicates the cur- the last few months. remain unclear. The two victims of the rent security situation. also undermine the authority of the There could be a number of reasons shootings were identified as David There has been a spate of kidnap- Afghan government by committing for the resent spike in kidnappings and Giles from Britain, believed to be pings taking place in the last few days repeated kidnapping and killings of assassinations. President Hamid deputy director of DHL, and his South in Afghanistan. Kidnappings are not a individuals. The killing of Ms Karzai reshuffled five cabinet minis- African colleague, Jason Bresler. The new phenomenon in Afghanistan. Williams of the UK based charity ters, including the appointment of incident took place in the Sher Pur area However, the recent hike in violence SERVE Afghanistan and the abduc- former head of the CIA’s Osama Bin Hanif Atmar as the new interior minis- of the city, where many foreign nation- coupled with the increase in kidnap- tion of the 17 contract workers in Laden group, explained the current ter who is seen as a competent manag- als live and is thought to be relatively pings will be sure to have a further Kunar underscore the constant threat situation in Afghanistan as being er. Observers believe that the removal safe part of town. The DHL office is destabilizing effect on governance in posed by the movement to civilians “infested with everything from the of the former interior minister Zarar located in front of the Iranian embassy the country. A candidate in the first who are involved in the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda on the insur- Ahmad Moqbel may have led to the and this killing has highlighted the con- presidential election, Humayoun Shah rebuilding effort. gency side, to bandits and warlords to increase in the level of violence in stant danger faced by individuals that Assefi, was kidnapped on October 19 The Afghan government will imme- narcotics traffickers. So you’re really Kabul city; individuals close to Moqbel reside in Kabul. These killings come in and was found alive on October 26. diately have to implement short-term fighting a beast with 100 heads”. Thus, are sending a clear message to the the aftermath of the murder of Ms This was preceded by two other kidnap- policies to shore up security in major it is imperative for both Afghan gov- national government stating that secu- Gayle Williams who was gunned down pings: the son of an Azizi Bank official cities. Local governance and law and ernment and NATO forces to deal with rity in the country has been jeopard- on her way to work a week earlier. The was kidnapped in Kabul city and a order have to be improved in order to the current situation through a holis- ized by the removal of the former min- Taliban took the responsibility for this Canadian journalist was kidnapped reduce the levels of kidnappings and tic approach. The government needs ister from the powerful ministry. The killing, accusing Ms Williams of near the city.The son of the Azizi Bank killings. The perpetrators of these to put its own house in order by clamp- rise in violence is seen as a direct chal- spreading the Christian faith, an accu- official was found alive along with Mr crimes have to be brought to justice. ing down on corruption and opening lenge to the new interior minister’s sation that was denied by the charity Shah Assefi. For the longer term security issues up dialogue with the Taliban so the ability to take on this role. Another that she worked for. On Thursday October 23, unidenti- plaguing the country, there would country could finally see peace. explanation for the spike in violence is However, in respect to the Saturday fied gunmen kidnapped two have to be dialogue and reconciliation that the insurgency is getting its last ! shooting, Zabiullah Mujahed, a Bangladeshi development workers, an with the Taliban. Michael Scheuer, the efforts in before the traditional