April 05, 2020

Insurgency at the time of coronavirus pandemic

topic:	Health and Sanitation
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

Be it a muddy political arena or the deadly war theatre, exploiting the rival’s weakness caused by coronavirus pandemic is a crime against humanity. This applies to all factions, groups and countries. Regardless of the geographical, ideological or any other boundaries.

In Afghanistan for instance, the armed rebel groups, such as the Taliban, Daesh, and more than a dozen others bent upon imposing their self-styled regime on the public may keep the right to propagate their ideologies in other ways, but seeking vulnerabilities of the government at this crucial moment in time is way too cruel with the millions of Afghans in desperate need of aid and support.

As the country grapples with multiple challenges, the last thing these insurgent groups can do is turn their guns to the security forces busy patrolling logistics supply routes for basic items, food and medicine.

The grimness of the situation needs to be understood. All should unite to fight COVID-19, a virus that recognises no divisions and affects all.

The role of security forces, stable government institutions and above all frontline health workers is to ensure preventive measures with social distancing and hygiene are adopted. But how can that be done if the people tasked to do it do not feel safe first from the virus and secondly from the armed insurgents?

The Taliban in particular – who claim to control or contest some 40 per cent of Afghanistan – need to learn a lesson from the Malaysian insurgent group BRN, who has declared a ceasefire due to coronavirus, allowing humanitarian aid and health services.

Regrettably, the Taliban in Afghanistan continue to stage deadly attacks, particularly in the countryside where the situation is far worst than the few relatively safer urban centres in the war-ravaged country.

Now, more than ever is the time to agree on a worldwide truce, to stop all armed conflicts. Afghan officials have already warned that due to the fragile health system and crippling economy, millions can fall prey to the pandemic if situation remained as it is.

Image by Amber Clay

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