Afghans are no strangers to the Taliban’s seasonal offensives, but there is something significant about this year’s manoeuvres. On Monday, Taliban fighters took Kunduz, a city that lies on a crossroads connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan. The symbolism was clear: Kunduz was the first city to fall to the Taliban after the defeat of the Russians and it was the last to fall to the US-backed Northern Alliance in 2001.
Recapturing Kunduz is arguably the Taliban’s biggest achievement since then. After taking control of the city, Taliban fighters entrenched their foothold by taking control of banks, hospitals and other key infrastructure. All the while government forces struggled to mount a credible response. American special forces began engaging with the Taliban yesterday morning in an effort to turn the tide against the insurgents.
Even if it is eventually wrested back from the Taliban, the seizure of Kunduz delivered a blow to Ashraf Ghani’s government. For now, Kunduz affords the Taliban a critical northern base of operations. If the insurgents succeed in maintaining control, they are likely to cause severe disruption to supplies coming over the Friendship Bridge from Tajikistan – a critical entry point for cargo into the country and linchpin of Afghanistan’s economy.
The Kunduz attack pointedly underscores the Taliban’s ability to coordinate military action despite a period of transition following the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar. Mr Ghani’s government and the American special forces assisting Kabul appear unable to improve the security situation and even defend major cities.
The Taliban has a new figurehead, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who is ready and willing to engineer bold military advances and even forge alliances with ISIL militants. Put simply, Mr Ghani has no time to spare. He must pay heed to the Taliban’s military advances. The battle for Afghanistan remains alive. It is now time for Kabul to prove its ability to govern.
