The Taliban are retaking the initiative in Afghanistan. The former militant Islamist rulers of that war-ravaged country have regrouped and are mounting increasingly bold and sustained attacks on the government in Kabul. There are many factors behind the Taliban's resurgence but a growing concern is the reported presence of -- and impunity enjoyed by -- Taliban fighters in western Pakistan. The government in Islamabad must redouble its efforts to eliminate the Taliban remnants that are using its territory to regroup and to destabilize Afghanistan.
The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating even as British-led coalition forces launch offensives against Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. While the U.S.-led alliance quickly routed the former Islamist government, it did not crush it entirely. Remnants escaped and they have gathered strength. More than 4,000 people lost their lives in fighting last year, making 2006 the bloodiest year since the Taliban government fell in 2001. In Congressional testimony, Mr. Michael McConnell, the U.S. director of national intelligence, said 2007 would be "a pivotal year for Afghanistan." Today, some 46,000 allied forces have been deployed throughout the country, yet there are calls for more troops.
The Taliban's confidence was evident when a suicide bomber blew up at the gate of the main U.S. base in the country during a visit by U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. While more than 20 people were killed, the vice president was never threatened by the attack. Still it was a symbol of the group's growing verve and strength. This is an increasingly popular tactic by the Taliban: Suicide bombers were virtually unknown in Afghanistan. In 2005, there were 21 such attacks; last year there were 139. In late February, a Taliban spokesman said that the group sent 1,000 suicide bombers into northern Afghanistan to resume the guerrilla war against coalition forces. He said another 1,000 bombers were ready and more are in training.