The resurgence of the Taliban

There are obvious signs that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. The resurgent Taliban is looming larger than ever, as demonstrated by the precipitous increase in kidnappings and Iraqi-like suicide bombings, and have succeeded in intimidating the international community and the government of President Hamid Karzai. Kathleen McGowan addresses this concern in an op-ed in today’s New York Times.

McGowan describes a particular kidnapping which underlines the effectiveness of the Taliban’s strategy. Karzai’s decision to release five captured Taliban leaders in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist puts him in a bad-light, McGowan writes, as the release of two Afghan journalists also captured by the Taliban was not part of the deal. Consequently, Karzai has been accused of valuing the life of a foreigner more than those of his own people.

For the full article, click here.