Islamabad—The downing of a US helicopter in which 38 people, including 30 American Special Operations troops, were killed is an indication that Taliban are gaining strength as the US and NATO troops continue gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan. The development is significant since it will considerably weaken the US and Afghan forces psychologically.
The incident shows that Taliban possess some accurate surface-to-air missiles. So far, nobody knows the type of missiles that was used. However, it could be Stinger missiles, which were supplied to the Mujahideen during the first Afghan Jihad against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Stingers changed the complexion of the war as they crippled the Red Army and subsequently forced the Soviet to withdraw their forces from Afghanistan. According to the public US administration reports, the CIA managed to buy-back the Stingers from the black market by paying $ 100,000 per piece.
However, there are conflicting reports on the CIA claim. Independent military sources believe that Taliban possess at least 100 shoulder-fired Stingers, and they use them when they are hundred percent sure that they would down the fighter planes. Stingers have the deadliest record against fighting aircraft of any weapon since World War II. However, the limitation of Stinger is that they are effective against low-flying airliners. Most probably, this is the reason behind selective using of Stingers during a decade long war.
According to a second theory, Taliban acquired missiles similar to Stingers. Surface-to-air missiles similar to Stingers are made in Britain and Russia. The Russian made SAM-16, which contains Stinger technology. The Russian stole the technology from Greece in 1980s. Russian missiles can be purchased in international arms markets.
The Russian mafia is reportedly bartering weapons with heroin. Hence, the Russian missiles, including SAM-16 can land anywhere in the region. Britain makes Blowpipe, a British equivalent of the Stingers. However, it is relatively difficult to obtain Blowpipe. A third theory is even more dangerous. It suggests that some regional powers were able to reproduce Stingers through reverse engineering. Taliban could have obtained that type of Stingers. Since this brand of missiles rely on stolen American technology, one can buy it from black-market only. Evidently, the black market knows no rules and restrictions.
The only criteria are to pay in cash. And if this theory is correct, it means that the US and NATO would face tough times in the days to come.
Ostensibly, Taliban are following a well-thought plan. They are focusing on hitting hard the US and NATO forces while they are pulling out their troops from Afghanistan. Simultaneously, Taliban are targeting pro-US influential personalities to spread terror among the ill-trained and demoralized Afghan army and police. The objective is to prove that only Taliban can rule Afghanistan.