Initially, the war in Afghanistan was specifically aimed at the Taliban whose government was eventually removed. This was in response to 9/11. With the passage of time, and because of extensive collateral damage caused due to the attacks by the US/Nato forces, the local population has been antagonised. Consequently, they are beginning to rely on the Taliban and are supporting them. This in turn has provided the Taliban a good opportunity to recruit people, and not necessarily on the basis of religion, but on the claim that they are fighting in defence of their land. The resistance is seen by some as a kind of a liberation movement for ousting foreign forces from Afghanistan. Honour and independence are vital to Pakhtuns. They consider even their leaders as equals, always opposing the use of arbitrary power by their rulers. A good example of this is given by what an Afghan said to a nineteenth century British historian working with the government of British India, Monstuart Elphinstone: “We are content with discord; we are content with alarms; we are content with blood; but we never will be content with a master”.
After a recent meeting in the end of July, it was reported that conflict would be tackled through dialogue. This is a good thing, but the question is that does the government have the will, commitment and authority to enforce its decision or does the sovereign power lie elsewhere? Unless the foreign forces occupying Afghanistan leave and allow the local socio-political elements to resolve their problems through their own customs and traditions the bloodshed will go on both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Muhammad Azam Khan