Afghan President Blames Rapid Troop Withdrawal For Escalating Violence

The Afghan president has blamed the rapid withdrawal of western troops for the worsening violence in his country. 

Ashraf Ghani said his government would now focus on protecting provincial capitals and major urban areas in the face of the rapidly advancing Taliban.

The Afghan leader also urged politicians to back a national mobilisation drive against the Taliban, amid an intensifying war between the Taliban and Afghan government forces over the past few months as US and NATO  troops complete their drawdown of troops from the war-torn country.

In his address to Afghan Parliament, Mr Ghani referenced Washington's push for negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban as "an imported, hasty" peace process that "not only failed to bring peace but created doubt and ambiguity" among Afghans. 

The extraordinary session of the Afghan parliament was called because of the dire situation on the ground.

Ever since the UK, the US and other NATO troops began the final withdrawal from the country earlier this year, the Taliban has been targeting provincial capitals including Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand, near where Camp Bastion used to be.

The Taliban have already taken large swathes of land and scores of districts in more rural areas, as well as several key border crossings with neighbouring countries.

Ever since the troops' departure in 2014 and the handing over of the base to the Afghan army, the militants have slowly consolidated control over many of its districts.

"The Taliban do not believe in lasting or just peace," said Mr Ghani, who predicted a sea change on the battlefield "in the next six months" that would push the Taliban back, without elaborating.

He claimed that Afghan forces are up to the task and have the "capacity" to defeat the insurgents.

Hours after the president's remarks, Taliban fighters seized control of Helmand province's government radio and TV building in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.

Back in Kabul, Mr Ghani claimed his government has the financial and political support of the US and the international community to turn the tide even as he urged the insurgents to rejoin peace talks.

"We either sit knee to knee at the real negotiating table or break their (Taliban) knees on the battleground," Mr Ghani said.

A new report this week outlined the various issues facing Afghanistan as Western troops near the completion of their withdrawal from the country.

Cover image: US Air Force.