The Guardian, 28 October 2014
In a detailed report about the comeback of the Taleban and the end of the anti-Taleban uprising, “Martine van Bijlert, an Uruzgan expert with the Afghanistan Analysts Network” is quoted:
In Gizab, however, residents waited in vain after the revolt for the government to exert control… “Instead, they just felt like a lot of local commanders were given a lot of power,” she said. “And it wasn’t necessarily better.” Corruption, nepotism and hard-handed treatment of residents remained the order of the day.
International forces also underestimated the fluctuating nature of Afghan politics, expecting local power-brokers to throw their lot behind those that booted out the Taliban. “In reality, the US military were dealing with commanders who have a history of going back and forth between the different sides,” said Van Bijlert.
Revisions:
This article was last updated on 9 Mar 2020
