Security officials step up operations to eliminate terrorist havens

For years Afghanistan has been poisoned by anger at the presence of virtually terrorists on the country’s soil.

But as security forces move into the ground operation phase of a long-awaited drive to clear militant safe-havens from its eastern, southern and northern parts of the country.

The winter-offensive of Afghan security forces has been launched in northern and southern parts of the country since ten days ago.

“Our operations have been launched in Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Faryab and Helmand and the winter-offensive will also be launched in eastern part of the country,” said Najibullah Danish, deputy spokesman of the interior ministry.

The national defense ministry also stresses on continuing the military operations for suppressing the insurgents.

“Currently, 11 operations launched in ten provinces of the country. The slow process of operations is because we do not want the civilians to be killed,” said Dawlat Waziri, spokesman of defense ministry.

Eliminating terrorist safe havens has been a central component of government policy.

The issue has recently received renewed attention as the so-called Islamic State acquired significant swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq.

However, despite this focus, scholarship and government policy on the issue remain compromised by significant misconceptions.

Correcting these weaknesses requires a new framework for understanding safe havens.

Specifically, recognizing safe havens as diverse entities that are created, perpetuated, and eradicated by people rather than as uniform and naturally occurring areas, is vital.

2015 had been the bloodiest year since 2001, with a sharp increase in civilian and military casualties. This year, Pakistani security forces have also continued regular attacks across the Durand Line in clear violation of Afghan sovereignty and territorial integrity.