Back to warlordism?

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 13 Is it back to `warlordism' in Afghanistan with the Taliban militia reportedly on the run and the commanders of the Northern Alliance walking into province after province without firing a single shot?

This is the question uppermost in the minds of diplomats, political observers and journalists here as the news of the fall of Kabul to the Northern Alliance spread like wild fire.

The United Nations and other international agencies operating inside Afghanistan talked about unconfirmed reports of executions, reprisals, loot and arson in cities deserted by the Taliban.

For all its notoriety of an eye-for-an-eye policy and the most reprehensible human rights record, the Taliban was credited with bringing a semblance of `law and order' when it rode to power in 1996 in a country where warlords ruled the roost.

With no political alternative to the Taliban in sight to take charge of affairs in Kabul and the international efforts towards the broad-based and multi-ethnic government not reaching anywhere, there is serious concern about the future of Afghanistan.

Ms. Stephanie Bunker, spokesperson for the U.N. Humanitarian Co- ordinator for Afghanistan, quoting reports from Mazar-e-Sharif told correspondents that some elements looted the U.N. and NGO offices, including food warehouses. She said other unconfirmed reports speak of incidents of violence and of summary executions.

Another spokesperson for the UNICEF said that Afghan staff members stationed at the UNICEF sub-office in Mazar-e- Sharif are currently working to establish contact with a Northern Alliance forces commander in the area, after reports that it had seized a 10-truck UNICEF supply convoy arriving over the weekend, at the same time the city was falling to advancing opposition troops.

The spokesperson said UNICEF is seeking to ensure the safety of the commercial transport company drivers who are all Pashtun, the trucks themselves and the supplies, which ``we presume had been taken to the commander's base in Mazar-e-Sharif for protection.'' The convoy, which arrived in Mazar-e-Sharif as scheduled on Saturday, was the first U.N. consignment of relief items to reach the city following its capture by the Alliance forces.

``Our colleagues at the sub-office have reported that soon after the fall of the city, a group of armed people entered the UNICEF premises and removed almost every item found inside. These included computers, furniture, radio equipment and other supplies related to UNICEF projects.

``We can confirm that no staff member was injured, as we have heard the staff and their families are safe. In addition, all UNICEF vehicles were reportedly taken by Taliban forces as they moved away from Mazar-e-Sharif toward Pulikumri, also taking with them communication equipment belonging to UNICEF (satellite telephone and computer set-up in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Mazar-e-Sharif office).''

The U.N. agency officials said the situation could worsen if law and order further deteriorates. In the past, each time Mazar-e- Sharif and its adjacent areas changed hands, atrocities were committed against the civilians.

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Section  : International
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