By Afshain Afzal

Security Situation in Afghanistan has started improving as Taliban offered unconditional amnesty to all the Afghans and asked President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to step down in order to pave way for democratic process in Afghanistan. There is a general announcement that no one would be prosecuted or punished and foreigners would have protection guarantee. Other developments include that Pushtuns of Afghanistan with Uzbeks and Tajiks in general have joined Taliban and made quite abrupt semi-military moves to fill the gap created after the withdrawal of foreign forces. However, foreign nations encouraged mass immigration of US-NATO affiliated Afghan groups to migrate to Iran, India and Western nations including the US, Canada, Greece and UK. Supportive black media propaganda has started gaining momentum like Taliban denied girls right to go to school, women are not allowed to work outside the home, women are forced to wear veil or Burqa and be escorted by a male relative when going outside. Such propaganda received mixed reaction. The influx of refugee movement has made the security situation complex. For the first time US-NATO afflicted groups were seen fleeing to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and even to Russia. Personnel incharge at Uzbekistan’s Karshi Khanabad (K-2) Base confirmed the reports.

In another development Iran’s eighth president Ebrahim Raisi was elected as a result of 48.8 percent turnout, the lowest in any presidential race since the 1979 revolution. He has promised to take action to lift harsh sanctions imposed by the United States and bridge the gap with dissatisfied Iranians, however, he said that he will not tie the Iran’s future to the West. In a strategic move, Enrique Mora, the European Union’s senior representative in the Vienna talks, is expected to attend Raisi’s inauguration on 5 August 2021. There are high chances that as a result of major compromises separate EU-Iran and US-Iran agreements would be concluded. There are high hopes that 2015 nuclear deal with world powers would be revived in original. Soft corner by the Washington towards Tehran has been witnessed in the near past and after emergence of new leadership post elections, White House has reportedly offered mass immigration to the Afghan refugees through third parties as new phase of US Afghan strategy to create Iraq and Libya like situations in Afghanistan. It is being claimed the Pakistani leadership is in the knowledge of new plan but same could not be confirmed. Western and India media’s are releasing stories of Taliban’s anti-Shia and anti-Hazara but same could not be confirmed on ground. There were available links that suggested some Afghan factions maintaining communication with Western representatives, Iranian leadership and elements in Pakistan were also involved in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan to aggravate security situation in Afghanistan.

At the Afghan capital Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani presented a security plan to challenge the Taliban onslaught before the country’s parliament, but its details have not been made public. Western nations attentions were attracted towards what the Presidential statement said, “Taliban have started violating Human Rights”. In a collective move, the US and the UK as well as other western nations have accused the Taliban of “war crimes” in the southern town of Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, alleging that dozens of civilians were massacred.

Strange foreign forces have started leaving the country, Medicine Sans Frontier (MSF) coordinator looking after Helmand Project started furnishing situation reports, “There has been relentless gunfire, air strikes and mortars in densely populated areas. Houses are being bombed, and many people are suffering severe injuries.” The embassies of Washington and London have started giving separate tweets in which “War Crimes of Taliban” are being highlighted. UK representative in Afghanistan tweeted, "In Spin Boldak, Kandahar, the Taliban massacred dozens of civilians in revenge killings. These murders could constitute war crimes; they must be investigated & those Taliban fighters or commanders responsible held accountable." Tweet said, “The Taliban’s leadership must be held responsible for the crimes of their fighters. If you cannot control your fighters now, you have no business in governance later.”

Although Thomas Nicholson, head of the European Union delegation to Afghanistan was not available for comments but he was quoted to have said, “If Taliban rise to power militarily, the EU will not recognise them.” Afghan media reported that Nicholson said “We are clearly very concerned about the situation. We are trying to stay involved in Afghanistan as much as possible and will continue our development assistance. We will be involved politically, as well.” In a statement US State Department said, “In light of increased levels of Taliban violence, the US government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the United States, the opportunity for refugee resettlement to the US.” Interestingly, UNHCR is also presenting gloomy predictions. It is expected that by the end of this month, situation would be much clear. However, fears prevails that Western allies may execute their plan to carryout mass killings of Afghans on ethnic and sectarian grounds before 10^th of September to find an excuse of direct attacks on Afghanistan to hunt Taliban and affiliated.