The victory of Islamic militant group, the Taliban and their declaration of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has heightened fears of global spread of terrorism. Though leaders of the new regime said there is a huge difference between Taliban now and 20 years ago, their disposition to terrorism is yet unclear not withstanding their promise that Afghanistan will not serve as a base for terrorism and attacks on other countries. One thing that remains certain is that the exit of the US from that country is bound to have negative effects on global campaign against terrorism.
For the Taliban and their supporters, US hurried withdrawal is victory for resilience, opposition to foreign domination and occupation. It is also viewed as the triumph of the rights of a people to determine the type of government in which they want to be organized. The wider consequences of this realization for those currently pursuing one form of weird religious agenda or the other could be dire for world peace.
Given that the Soviet Union made a similar incursion and withdrew after nine years in which the US supported the Mujahideen against them, the withdrawal of the US would seem the last of such foreign incursions from the major powers. It is bound to embolden the Taliban on their touted resilience, patience and uncommon courage to resist and wear out foreign powers despite their superior weaponry.
The new leadership is not making any pretence about this. One of their commanders, Muhammed Afri Mustafa, apparently buoyed up by their success, told the CNN “America has their helicopters, weapons and tanks on the ground. But we, Mujahideen, resisted very well. It is our belief that one day, Mujahideen will have victory. Islamic law will come to not just Afghanistan but all over the world. We are not in a hurry; we believe it will come one day. Jihad will not end until the last day”.
These are weighty statements. And they sum up the disposition of the new regime to Jihad and the enforcement of Islamic laws across the globe. For a militant Islamic sect notorious for exporting terrorism, how they will go about this doctrinaire campaign across the world is an open secret.
This gives away the group as an unrepentant lot not in a hurry to part ways with its old pasts. US President, Joe Biden captured the dilemma of the Afghan situation succinctly when he said he does not envisage a change of attitude from the new Taliban regime. Not when they see their victory as evidence of their resilience, doggedness and patience in wearing out super powers irrespective of their assortment of superior fighting armament.
That is the clear message of the Taliban victory. If the Taliban could withstand both Soviet Union and the US despite their superior war technology, militant Islamic groups affiliated to that organization would be encouraged to stay on in their campaigns since victory will come someday. This will in turn, trigger off a domino effect for countries still battling terrorism. The consequences could turn out very devastating.
For us in Nigeria confronting a variety of terrorism challenges, the message is clear. Tougher times lie ahead. Nigeria is home to Boko Haram/ Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP insurgency, the insurgency of the herdsmen as well as that of the bandits. Boko Haram/ISWAP is an affiliate of Al, Qaeda. Parallels have been drawn between the ideological prompting of Boko Haram, Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
All share common commitment to Jihad and the institution of Islamic state. They also share common aversion to western education. While Boko Haram sees education as evil, the Taliban is against female education and women freedom. Hundreds of school children have been taken into captivity by both the Boko Haram insurgents and the bandits apparently to discourage education in some states of Nigeria. Many other schools have been shut down in parts of the north in the face of constant attacks from Boko Haram and bandits.
The Nation
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