By Haider Abbas
There had been three blasts at Kabul airport, inside the capital of Afghanistan, in which more than a 170 were killed and still counting. But, the irony is that the world knew the blasts were coming! And, is it also known that immediately after the blasts, the pre-scheduled meeting between Israel PM Naftali Bennett and US President Joseph Biden got deferred? As if the blasts were something-new in Afghanistan? Or what may be called had become a norm, since the US occupation forces landed in Afghanistan 20 years back and are now fleeing after leaving the country in what has now become a disaster.
How the world was considering that blasts were to happen hours before they came? Was it just a pre-supposed assumption or ‘hard-intelligence’ based information, and if the latter is true why were blasts not averted? Therefore, it sums-up the ‘zero-sum-game’ and why not an accusatory finger be pointed to US, as US is in command over the Kabul airport security! It may be mentioned that SkyNews had pointed that a ‘very lethal attack’ could occur at Kabul airport in matter of hours. It (came) as a senior British source said there is a “very high risk of a terrorist attack” against the Kabul evacuation operation which the UK, US and other allied forces are taking part in.’
The British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey confirmed ‘the government is taking a terror threat at Kabul airport or handling centres in Afghanistan very seriously. Heappey had said, the ‘”grim reality” is that intelligence has got “ever more certain” that an attack could take place at the Afghanistan capital’s airport or the handling centres being used to assess refugees. Asked if an attack could happen in the next few hours, he replied: “Yes.”’
It is reported in the same news that Heappey ‘ added that the UK government is “doing our best to keep those that have not left safe”. “We are doing our best to look at what other alternative provisions we might be able to make, but obviously we won’t be advertising those because that would simply make the alternative routes a target in themselves.” The group that is of most concern is an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan called Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, the source said.’ And, after the blasts, the ISIS-K took the responsibility! ‘”Intelligence over the course of the week has got ever more certain around the highly credible, imminent, lethal attack on the airport or the handling centres being used by western forces,” he had informed-all in advance to the blasts. US and allies are slated to evacuate Afghanistan by August 31 and is ferrying Afghans who had worked with US as they might face reprisals, from AT, once US draws its curtains. Amongst those killed have been 13 from US army.
Not surprisingly, Ashok Swain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University, too aired such views hours before the devastation was to hit the Kabul airport. He spoke to a Russian news website Lenta.Ru about ‘the probable targets of the terrorists who can arrange terrorist attacks are citizens of Western countries, primarily the United States. The reason the militants may attack them is to attract attention. The international community is more likely to pay attention to the deaths of those who came to Afghanistan from the United States or Europe, terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Tehreek-e Taliban ( all three are banned in Russia ) will be the organizers of the terrorist attacks that can occur at the Kabul international airport in a matter of hours.’ The big question is that when the world knew it why was the blasts led to happen? Ironically, no such blast occurred in whole of Afghanistan, since August 15, when Ashraf Ghani left the Presidential Palace, and now have happened where US holds the key! Will the world ever seek an answer?
What would merit an utmost attention here, is that the owner of the most dreaded group ‘Blackwaters’, Erik Prince, made an open offer to US administration, that he is ready to bring-back US stranded citizens in exchange of USD 6500 each. This was reported on Forbes , a day earlier to the blasts! On such an outrageous tenor of Erik Prince, the headline screamed, ‘White House Bashes Erik Prince’s $6,500 Evacuation Flights: ‘Efforts To Profit Off People’s Agony And Pain. ’ This elicited strong response from US government, came as White House press secretary, ‘Jen Psaki laid into Erik Prince, the controversial defense contractor who says he is charging $6,500-a-head for flights out of Afghanistan, noting the U.S. government is providing flights out of the country “free of cost.”
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 25: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily press. (Courtesy: Forbes. )
It was further reported that ‘ Psaki said the White House is not supportive of “profiting off of people who are desperate” to leave Afghanistan, adding that the US is providing free flights because “that is the right step to take.” Psaki went a step further later on in the briefing, arguing no human being “who has a heart and soul” would support “efforts to profit off of people’s agony and pain” as they are “fearing for their lives.’ With now the blasts done, isn’t it to make US become more dependable on ‘Blackwaters’? Who is to profit from this most terrible human suffering if not ‘Blackwaters’!
Another very important factor which has now almost got glossed-over, is about the timings of the blasts as they came almost immediately when the world was to start to debate the statement of AT spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid that ‘there was “no proof” that Osama bin Laden was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,’ as was reported by The Washington Post and no sooner this got reported, came the blasts, and thus, very ably diverted the attention! The debate which was to make a trigger has now been silenced.
Let’s see how long will it take for the ever lasting peace to descend in Afghanistan.
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The writer is a former UP State Information Commissioner and a political analyst.