Is the UN and its employees now a primary target of the Taliban? 3 UNHCR employees were killed and others wounded when suicide bombers and gunmen attacked their compound in southern Afghanistan. This followed another very deadly incident over the weekend – including suicide bombings – where more than 15 Americans, Australians and local Afghan citizens were killed. UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres described this as “organized” attack at around 6 a.m. local time in Kandahar. “This is a tragedy for UNHCR and for the families of the dead and wounded. It also underscores the great risks for humanitarian workers in Afghanistan. I am hugely saddened. All of us at UNHCR stand in solidarity with the families of those who have died or been injured.” UNHCR has been working in Afghanistan since the 1980s, and over this period it has facilitated the return of millions of refugees and assisted other forcibly displaced persons inside the country. It had served Afghans during the Soviet occupation and also worked them as refugees from neighboring countries as Pakistan and Iran. For many years of conflict in the last 3 decades, Afghanistan has been counted as the largest and one of most enduring refugee crisis in the world. (See FILM REPORT – “Angelina Jolie in Afghanistan” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/angelina-jolie-in-afghanistan/25492 ). UNHCR said it is seeking “a fuller understanding” of the circumstances of the attack. “Nevertheless, the fact remains that people working for us have been wounded and killed and the functioning of our Kandahar office seriously disrupted.” These incidents are reminiscent of the attack suicide bomb attack in Baghdad upon the UN HQ there in the early stages of that conflict that killed Mission Chief Sergio de Mello and so many other staff. In that and apparently current situation in Afghanistan, UN nor aid workers are seen as neutral. The allied mission in the country – “International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan” – (ISAFA), works under UN mandate and alongside the UN Mission – “United Nations Mission in Afghanistan.” Only this spring, there was a mob attack upon the UN compound in northern Afghanistan totally unrelated to the work of the UN but purportedly incited by the burning of a Quran in Florida by a Christian pastor. (See FILM REPORTS at “Pakistan” Channel including “Face that Kills for God” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/face-that-kills-for-god/26283 ). The UN has also been active and present in poppy/opium cultivation. This program has enjoyed limited success, and generally has not garnered popularity with many poor farmers. (See FILM REPORT - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/afghanistan-opium-poppy-cultivation/26462 ). UN related institutions have also sought to secure rights of women and girls, but again Taliban sentiment has stood in the way. (See FILM REPORT – “Afghan Women Regaining Rightful Role” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/afghan-women-regaining-rightful-role/25719 & "A Businesswoman in Herat" - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/a-businesswoman-in-herat-with-voiceover/28899 ). The United Nations political bodies have sought to differentiate Taliban between those opting for peace in negotiations with Kabul versus those continuing and extending the conflict. (See FILM REPORT – “UN Taliban Sanctions Eased” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/un-taliban-sanctions-eased/23844 ), although the ISAFA mission has been undermined by its own excesses and the continuing death of innocent civilians. (See FILM REPORT – “What About Afghan Civilian Casualties” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/what-about-afghan-civilian-casualties/25888 ). It is inevitable that an outside force overtime, and especially in Afghanistan, would come to appear stale to the local population. International military, civilian and humanitarian personnel become gradually lumped into one in the eyes of many in the local population– the outsider. There are also apparent abuses by ISAFA and Kabul allies which undermine standing with Afghan population – (READ - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/afghan-detention-abuses-by-ambassador-mo/36201) Undoubtedly the Taliban have also sought to exploit this tendency, and if anything are feeling more confident even as their attacks may appear more desperate. There probably needs to be a broader mission rethink, although an enemy like the Taliban offers few options. It is my impression though that the international effort in Afghanistan is in danger of failure on several levels, despite more optimistic assessments from the US/allied military. (READ – “Losing Afghanistan?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/losing-afghanistan-by-ambassador-mo/36085 ) PHOTOS ABOVE - Over Several Decades of UN Mission in Afghanistan. By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Facebook – Become a Fan at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – Follow us at DiplomaticallyX More at: “Pakistan Channel” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/pakistan & “NATO Mission” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/c/nato-mission