Collapse of the Taliban

Patron Lt Gen (Retd) SARDAR FS LODI dissects the rout of the Talibs.

The dreaded Taliban regime in Afghanistan has collapsed after a brutal five years of rule in the country. They left Kabul at night without a fight and the residents of the capital were able to breathe freely again and bask in the sunshine of freedom. They flocked to the streets in large numbers to welcome the troops and tanks of the Northern Alliance that rolled into the city the next morning as liberators. The Taliban troops had earlier left the northern city of Mazar-I-Sharif without a fight as well. After leaving Kabul the Taliban headed west towards Kandahar, their spiritual power base. Jalalabad was ignored and given up while their troops in Kanduz in the north who were unable to pull back were surrounded by the forces of the Northern Alliance and eventually forced to surrender.

Some commentators at home and abroad were somewhat taken aback by the sudden collapse of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the utter rout of their forces. They were probably taken in by the rhetoric of the Taliban leadership that they would fight to the death and defeat any aggressor. They even sent a warning to Afghanistan’ neighbours that they would declare war against those found helping the United States. This warning was aimed against Pakistan, which had decided to join the International Coalition against global terrorism.

The events of 11th September, when the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were destroyed and the Pentagon building in Washington damaged was a heinous act of terrorism that shocked the conscions of the world. This was the second time after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour that the United States was attacked without warning. But it was the first occasion when the continental US itself was the target and resulted in over 6,000 innocent civilian casualties. Some action had, therefore, to be taken to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice and prevent further similar attacks from taking place in the future. The world was alarmed and formed a coalition to combat the threat of terrorism. Pakistan joined the coalition and offered ‘unstinted’ support.

The United States had reason to believe after sifting through the evidence that Osama bin Laden, a former Saudi Arabian national living in Afghanistan was the mastermind and the prime suspect behind the terrorist attacks along with his Al-Qaida network. Consequently, the US government asked the Afghan Taliban Government to hand over Osama bin Laden and his associates for questioning and trial. The Taliban refused, saying that Osama was a guest in their country and their ‘customs’ prevented them from handing him over.

The Pakistan government realizing the seriousness of the international situation sent a special delegation to Kandahar on September 17 for talks with the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar. The delegation advised the Taliban to accede to the US request otherwise the International coalition was resolved to use force to achieve its military objectives of capturing Osama bin Laden and destroying his Al-Qaida network. The delegation had gone for two days and extended its stay by another day. After long discussions the Taliban authorities said they intended to assemble a Jirga (gathering) of 1,000 Ulema (religious leaders) and ask for their views before deciding. Later the Jirga of Ulema was assembled and decided that Osama should leave Afghanistan on his own accord. The question of handing over Osama bin Laden or his expulsion from the country was left undecided.

While the delegation was in Kandahar, Pakistan foreign minister said that time was running out for Afghanistan’s Taliban government to hand over terror suspect Osama bin Laden and avoid retribution from the United States. “Time is of the essence,” Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said in an interview. “There is no ultimatum, but time is definitely running out. The object of the visit (of the delegation to Kandahar) is an 11th hour attempt to convey to the leadership (of Afghanistan) that there is no time for negotiation in order to avert a crisis,” Mr Sattar said. He went on to say that, “The US feels very deeply hurt. It doesn’t have the patience for arguments or negotiation. It is time for action and decisions.” He said that unless the Taliban reacted swiftly, they may well bring about their own demise. “That is a real possibility,” he said. “It is difficult to entirely appreciate the nature of the government in Afghanistan, but given current circumstances it is realistic to conclude.”

While American and British forces were assembling in the Arabian Sea and ashore for a possible strike against Afghanistan. Pakistan decided to make one last attempt to save the situation. An ulema 10-member delegation from Pakistan was sent to Kandahar, the spiritual base of the Taliban government on September 28. The delegation met Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar, and made every effort to convince their hosts to confirm to international norms by conceding to the coalition requirements of handing over Osama bin Laden who was wanted in the United States for the terrorist acts committed there on 11th September. The Taliban, clearly said there was no question of handing over Osama bin Laden on moral or religious grounds. The Kandahar talks proved fruitless and the Pakistan delegation returned disappointed.

While the Taliban government was adamant in its resolve not to hand over Osama bin Laden the ‘prime suspect’ in the New York and Washington terrorist attacks, the decks were cleared to use force in the attainment of the coalition goals. In the meantime, the United Nations Security Council on September 28 unanimously adopted a comprehensive anti-terrorism resolution which authorizes use of force against terrorists and their political and military supporters. Invoking Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the resolution makes it mandatory on all 189 member states to crack down on the financing, training and movement of terrorists. The Security Council, approved the US-sponsored resolution by a 15-0 vote showing the unanimity of spirit in the council to combat terrorism in the backdrop of attacks on the United States.

When all else failed to convince the Taliban government in Afghanistan it was decided to launch air strikes against military targets in Kabul and other cities. This was done after nightfall on Sunday October 7th 2001. General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 15 bombers and 25 strike aircraft both sea and land-based, launched the missiles at 9 pm Kabul time (1630 GMT). General Myers said the attacks included B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers as well as ships and submarines in the region. A senior Pentagon official said 31 targets were hit which included air defences, military communications sites and terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan.

President George W. Bush addressed the nation on television after the strikes began. He said US and British forces were taking ‘targeted actions’ against Taliban military capabilities and Bin Laden’s Al Qaida network. In the days following the strikes at the World Trade Centre and Pentagon, President Bush had asked the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden. The Taliban offered to negotiate but refused to hand over. “Now the Taliban will pay a price” said the President, and he meant it.

Air strikes continued night after night and they gradually downgraded the Taliban military capability. The precision bombing knocked out anti aircraft missiles and guns, fighter aircraft and military helicopters, tanks, armoured personnel carriers and artillery guns of various calibres. Ammunition and petrol dumps were blown up. After the major items of military hardware were destroyed, troop concentrations were targeted and bombed, causing considerable casualties.

On 12 October President Bush offered the Taliban a ‘second chance’ to end the air strikes if they handed over Osama bin Laden. But the Taliban remained defiant and their leader Mullah Muhammad Omar dismissing any suggestion that the Militia would hand over Bin Laden the Saudi born dissident blamed for the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. “We do not have any extradition treaty with America under which we can hand over the suspected people,” the Afghan Islamic Press quoted Mr Omar as saying.

By the end of October, US aircraft were attacking bunkers and caves used by Osama bin Laden at one time or another. Large bunker buster laser guided bombs were used for this purpose often guided by US Special Forces troops on the ground. As the Taliban’s fighting capability was reduced and that of the Northern Alliance increased by the infusion of more tanks and armoured personal carriers from Russia, the military situation on the ground started to shift in favour of the Northern Alliance. They were thus able to clear one province after another with the help of massive US air bombardment on Taliban front line positions. Desertions and change of loyalties of the losing side also helped the advance of Northern Alliance troops.

In their fight against international terrorism in Afghanistan, President George W. Bush and the military planners at the Pentagon devised a new military strategy which is based on a combination of police type operations and traditional warfare. This was required for an elusive and unpredictable foe operating in hostile terrain and weather conditions. Avoiding a large scale Soviet type invasion of the country, America decided on an unprecedented type of campaign, which started with massive air bombardment but remains somewhat limited and largely covert. Weeks of bombing with about 100 sorties a day and more than 2,000 bombs dropped on military installations and ground troops, US forces crippled Taliban’s military capability beyond repair, according to the Pentagon.

Now the effort continues for the capture of Osama bin Laden a $25 million reward has been offered for information leading to his capture. This large amount has prompted many to come forward with information about his whereabouts. Every lead is being followed carefully. Any possible escape routes to Pakistan have been sealed. These search operations are now being conducted by US Special Forces with local help. It seems only a question of time before the objectives are achieved.

It is hoped that after 20 years of turmoil, peace returns to Afghanistan when a broad based government is formed in the country, for which efforts are in hand. The people of Afghanistan would also need financial and other assistance to rebuild their country after 20 years of destruction, caused by external and internal forces and policies.