Hanan Habibzai

US in denial: Watershed in Afghanistan Diplomatic statements have ignored the strategic and psychological battles won by the Taliban. Marwan Bishara The senior political analyst at Al Jazeera. Doha, Qatar - In one of the first official US reactions to the attacks against Kabul and cities across eastern Afghanistan last weekend, Ryan C Crocker, US ambassador to Afghanistan, said: "The Taliban are really good at issuing statements, Less good at actually fighting." And after accusing (or crediting) the Haqqani network based in the tribal area within the Afghan-Pakistan borders' region, the ambassador added: "Frankly I don't think the Taliban is good enough." These declarations have come after the insurgents targeted sensitive installations in the country's most important population centres - including at least three prominent targets in Kabul - in one of the most coordinated and pronounced assaults since the occupation bega...

By Hanan Habibzai  Nearly two weeks ago , [on 7 August 2010] some eight Aid Workers were put to death; this has further made the life insecure in Afghanistan where peace and development are most desired. Such wanton killings only further destabilise the country and the region. Today Afghanistan is home to the US and NATO forces who landed here for some hidden agendas but the declared objectives were to bring peace and development to Afghanistan, that’s not only a distant dream but its totally ignored. These foreign forces have patronised their warlords who are working through them to firm their grip over the country but they are getting a strong resistance from the people all over the country.  Northern Allience’s Qasim Fahim  and  Karim Khalili  the first and second deputies of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his chief of army staff   Abdul Rashid Dostum  have become the instruments of warlordism and   criminal activities. mass...