Experts Criticize Govt’s War Management, Military Strategy

Military analysts and former security officials strongly criticized the government’s current management of the war against the Taliban, saying the reason behind the collapse of districts to the Taliban is that the government’s military leaders have failed to lead the war in a successful way.

Wais Ahmad Barmak, the former Afghan Minister of Interior, said that the politicization of the war by political leaders and the rapid appointments of new military leaders has had a negative impact on the morale of the security forces.

However, the Office of National Security Council said that there is coordination between the security agencies, and the government’s handling of the war has improved.

Fighting has significantly increased in Afghanistan in the past two months.

Military analysts said that while the country needs strong military leadership, the Ministry of Interior is being run by a caretaker and the minister of defense has again traveled abroad.

They also criticized the recent reshuffling in the National Directorate of Security.

“One of the fundamental issues that we are dealing with in the current situation is the lack of preemptive planning,” said former minister of interior Wais Ahmad Barmak.

“There are several decision-making centers (including) the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces … the National Security Council has changed from a consultative body to an executive body,” said military analyst Zahir Azimi.

“At the 6:30 meeting the Ministry of Defense had its own internal disagreement, while in the Ministry of Interior there is an unprofessional man,” said military analyst Zahir Azimi.

“From the military power perspective, the security forces are not vulnerable to any terrorist group,” said Rohullah Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

“The appointments in the ministries are coming from the National Security Council and this incompetence has led to the current situation that we have in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Nasim Mudabir, a member of Parliament’s internal security commission.

“Our colleagues at the National Security Council and their leadership should provide answers to the nation about why several appointments occurred and why the reshuffling took place in the NDS in less than two or three weeks,” said Wais Ahmad Barmak, the former interior minister.

“The war management has improved more than ever; there is extended coordination among our forces,” said Rahmatullah Andar, a spokesman for the Office of the National Security Council.

The Taliban significantly increased their attacks on the Afghan forces following the announcement of the unconditional withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

According to the Parliament’s commission on internal security, currently fighting is ongoing in 300 points across Afghanistan.