The coordinated Taliban attacks in Kabul and three provinces have sent out varying signals from the parties involved in the complex scenario in Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai has blamed an intelligence failure, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has commended the Afghan forces for responding to the attacks and Australia has announced an earlier-than-planned pullout of most of its troops out of Afghanistan.
But the fact remains that the Taliban are still a force which can strike at will and sow terror in the hearts and minds of the people as demonstrated by the 18-hour offensive despite the presence of international troops. This raises serious questions about the preparedness of the Afghan troops when the foreign forces complete their pullout in 2014.
It also throws the spotlight on the still fluid security situation in the country despite regular assurances that the fight is now on for the hearts and minds of the people. The recent incidents of violence following the burning of the Quran also show that the international forces have yet to grasp the religious and cultural sensitivities of the people.
In light of this, the US-led spring offensive, expected to begin soon, may be Nato's last chance to shore up Kabul's defences before a significant withdrawal of combat troops limits its options. The main access routes, roads and highways into Kabul from the south and east will need to be the focus of this offensive in order to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and goods.
But this task will be made more difficult with the declining number of international troops, like those from Australia as announced yesterday by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In the coming months, the international community must rally together and show that it is genuinely concerned about the future and well-being of the country.
