THE fall of Kunduz is a major success for the Taliban. For the first time since the Taliban were routed in 2001, a major city located barely 150km north of Kabul, fell into the hands of the insurgents. Many analysts were proved wrong, who thought that the Taliban would not be able to take major cities.

This development suggests the Ashraf Ghani government and the Afghan National army are weaker than were expected. The ascendency of the Taliban under their new Amir, Mullah Mohammad Mansoor, is not a good omen.

It must be ensured that the fall of Kuduz is not repeated anywhere else in Afghanistan. Pakistan must be clear that helping any kind of militancy in Afghanistan would not be in its interests, if Pakistan wants peace within its own borders.

Akbar Jan Marwat

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 6th , 2015

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