A number of military analysts and lawmakers on Saturday said Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum's trip to northern Afghanistan was "just for show".

They said that his recent trips aimed at suppressing insurgents have not resulted in lasting achievements.

According to them, Dostum has spent vast amounts of money on these trips up north to fight the Taliban and that while he is there he clears areas of insurgents but as soon as he returns to Kabul the militants return.

"When General Dostum goes, the militants flee the area, but when he returns, the militants also return to those areas and resume their activities more seriously and ... take revenge," said Mirza Mohammad Yarmand, a military expert.

The question asked by many is why does Dostum go to Jawzjan and Faryab all the time and spend millions of dollars of his personal money and use government's military equipment worth of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"I think the trips are just for show. I mean General Dostum shows his power and he stands before his political opponents. He should also think about protection of the areas to prevent the return of the militants and should do something, so that the areas will be cleared forever," said Faisal Sami, a senator.

"If the enemy is not followed and their escape routes are not blocked, they will return. This time the troops fighting under the vice president have been ordered to follow the enemy and eliminate them," said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the ministry of interior.

Last year, Dostum once again donned his uniform, after leaving the military 15 years ago. He is currently in the north of Afghanistan, along with troops, fighting the Taliban.