“If you ask any Afghan when did it all start, they will say it is because of that, the assassination of Mr. Daoud, this was the turning point….The last day that Afghanistan was independent was 27th April 1978.” – Nadir Naeem-Grandson of Daoud Khan
On 28 April 1978, Afghan President Daoud Khan, along with his family and close aides was assassinated in a coup by the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan. President Khan, himself, came to power by deposing King Zahir Shah, the rightful ruler of Afghan people. Although Khan claimed to be a communist, his policies were not consistent with the vision of Soviet Union. It is widely accepted that after the death of Khan, Afghanistan has not recovered from the political turmoil. Within less than two years of his death, two Afghan Presidents were assassinated. In December 1979, USSR invaded Afghanistan, and the invasion lasted for ten years. From 1989 onwards, neither regime has been strong enough to impose the will of state on the territory.
Today, roughly fifty-five percent of Afghan territory is controlled by Taliban. The coalition forces have not only failed to control the territory, but they have also failed to win the heart of Afghan people who are tired of this war. The coalition forces should adopt a more comprehensive and practical approach in which the groups should not be analysed through the American prism which distinguishes people as enemy or non-enemy.