MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Analysts believe President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has in sight a new security operation and command center to counter mounting Taliban assaults in the northern provinces.
On Wednesday, President Ghani visited Balkh province for the second time within weeks to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the north and northeast. The President met with a number of political leaders at the Presidential Palace before flying to Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh province.
Hakim Nazim, a political analyst, said the establishment of a new command and control center in the north would help bring peace and order amid mounting Taliban assaults. According to him, the northern provinces of the country are strategic and sensitive in many ways respects and if the area falls into the hands of the Taliban, the country will face a bad economic situation.
US not giving up on peace drive for Afghanistan
Afghanistan calls for UNSC meeting
Meanwhile, another political analyst, Tariq Farhadi, believed that if the security situation does not improve, the Taliban may blockade Kabul economically. He said the government should not allow the Taliban to seize the port of Hairatan, which is of great economic importance.
On the other hand, Mohammad Amiri, deputy spokesman of the President, said that the purpose of the President’s visit to Balkh was to assess the security situation in the northern provinces and the management of the war.
During his visit to Balkh, he said, President Ghani met with security officials, as well as political and jihadi leaders, to discuss how to mobilize, equip and defend the country against the Taliban in the north.
According to him, the President stressed that he would do his utmost to defend the country and the people against the Taliban.
According to political analysts, the only way to save Afghanistan now is to speed up peace talks because the continuation of the war will cause further disasters in the country.
ENDS
