Kabul, finally, fell into the hands of the Taliban, thus completing its submission to anti-human rights, regressive and fundamentalist forces. The whole world was taken aback to see a terrorist organization winning over a state apparatus in such a short time and sheer intensity. The most unexpected part is that Afghanistan has been captured through lightning speed and virtually without any resistance.

Previously, Afghanistan had experienced the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001. Though the heavy offensive from the US and NATO forces compelled them to retreat two decades ago, current events tell us the failure of the government installed by the foreign powers. The government and society which have seen the terrible form of Taliban rule, that epitomizes its repression against women and the horrific reality of Shariah law, and does not resist them with full force, is, sorry to say, simply irresponsible. US Withdrawal from Afghanistan is already heavily criticized across the world. Britain and other European powers have unitedly stated that the unilateral withdrawal is the principal reason behind the doom of Afghanistan. For the US, this is a Vietnam kind of super defeat.

But, blaming solely the US would be an over-simplified explanation for this utterly complicated geopolitical issue. The geopolitical implication of the Taliban seize is multi-dimensional, ranging from the global form of fundamentalist political Islam to the allurement for arms and money of the Afghan ruling class. International Islamic fundamentalism warily used this headless run behind the Taliban. The girls told how a large section of their societal power, engulfed in bigotry and money rush, betrayed them. When foreign powers actively helped for the liberation of Afghan society, the domestic elements showed their heartless faces. Then-President Abdul Ghani had no option but to flee. But shall he or his political aides be able to say that what did they do for nation-making or even ruling it? What measures did they take to stop the Taliban?

The happiest faction on earth now undoubtedly is the military leadership of Pakistan. It is their ultimate victory. Behind this staggering rise of the Taliban, their role is no gab now. For the past few decades, they maintained a sanctuary for the Taliban. From the physical map of Afghanistan, it is evident that if aid didn't come from Pakistan, the Taliban was not an able force to stand tall in the tribes-dominated mountainous landscape. The invincibility of the Taliban not only comes from the tribesmen fighters' resilience but also the aids from an allied power equipped with ultra-modern war techniques and intelligence service. US-led NATO force was not able to penetrate their remote territories in the past two decades. Taliban-ruled neighbor state is not good news for India too. What path for Delhi a relation will take with a fundamentalist power? For most of the part, the answer lies with Rawalpindi. That is the saddest thing of all.

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