Over the past few months, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have managed to recapture a number of areas that had fallen to insurgents, but resettlement has proved challenging for people that have fled war-hit regions – especially in Kunduz.
The Chahardarah district in the strategic town of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan is one such area where hundreds of families fled their homes to escape war. However the majority of these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have so far not been able to return to their homes.
According to some of them and Afghan lawmakers, rule of law, governance and sovereignty of the government continues to remain fragile in areas which were retaken from insurgents.
Chahardarah residents said no government institutions are operating in their areas and that the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and their foreign counterparts frequently fly over and conduct air strikes which makes it difficult for them to return home.
Ghulam Mohammad 47 is one affected resident from Chahardarah. He fled the area along was his family months ago, but they have not been able to return home as they fear ongoing airstrikes will put their lives in danger.
Recently a foreign forces air strike in the same district killed at least ten civilians.
“Nothing is left for us, now we have sought refuge here in Kunduz city and live in a rented house,” Mohammad said.
“We have been left here helpless and we do not even have food to eat,” said Zarmina, another resident of Chahardarah.
“Sometimes even actual reports are not provided to the security forces about the remnants of the Taliban on the site or areas which are cleared of insurgents, because in such areas, the Taliban are trying to take shelter inside the residential areas and they hide their weapons,” said Hashim Alokozai, head of the senate’s defense commission.
Meanwhile, a number of lawmakers in parliament have said that the presence of security forces in areas cleared of insurgents is critical. They said government should also make sure that local administrations are working in such areas.
“There is a need to launch clearance operations particularly after air raids in some areas where there is the presence of the enemy; secondly it is important to ensure the protection of areas cleared of militants,” said MP Abdul Qayoum Sajjadi.
“When the district governor is not present in a district, when there is no services available to the people, what can people achieve out of the war?” asked civil society activist Fazel Rahman Rahimi.
In response to this, the ministry of defense said local forces are tasked with the job of security of retaken areas.
“Local forces are then structured and they are tasked to protect targeted areas within the framework of their structure; we also use reserve forces,” said defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri.
Maintaining security in areas which have been retaken from insurgents has proved to be an enormous challenge for the Afghan security forces. However the Afghan government has said it will address the issue and plight of the IDPs in its four year strategic plan.