Surge for Survival in Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama has ordered the deployment of an additional 17,000 troops in Afghanistan, saying the war against insurgents is “still winnable”.

However, he rightly believes that military means alone would not solve the problem, and has emphasised the need for making use of diplomacy and development as weapons to end the Taleban insurgency.

With the new deployment, the number of US troops in Afghanistan will reach 55,000, apart from some 30,000 troops from other countries. The surge has come at a time when insurgency is on the rise, and the security situation has worsened with more roadside bombs and suicide explosions targeting the Afghan army and foreign troops. Add to this the new US administration’s deteriorating relationship with President Hamid Karzai, whose writ has shrunk even more over the past few months.

President Obama, who had criticised President Bush’s decision to launch a war in Iraq that diverted attention away from Afghanistan, is working to put together a comprehensive strategy to fulfil “achievable goals” in Afghanistan. And in doing so his policy vision has been supplemented by military, intelligence and Congressional officials, who agree that the biggest challenge the US is facing is in Afghanistan.

The deployment comes on the heels of US special envoy Richard Holbrooke’s trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which was dubbed as the administration’s “listen and learn” exercise, before it comes up with a new strategy for the region.

By addressing the immediate military needs, Washington might have come to the rescue of US and Nato commanders desperately fighting for control in the south. However, a comprehensive strategy that could stabilise Afghanistan allowing the coalition to leave is yet to emerge.

The Southwest Asia region badly needs a new approach that effectively addresses its security issues as well as political and economic realities. President Obama needs to sort out the mess in Afghanistan and Pakistan sooner rather than later. The US needs to ask itself once again what its goals are in the region. Defeating the insurgency completely in Afghanistan has never been possible. Ask the Russians.

This is why Washington should explore other more achievable goals like pushing for a national unity government and encouraging the Karzai government’s dialogue with Taleban.

Militancy in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan to a great extent is an offshoot of political and economic injustices and deprivations the people of this region have suffered during the past many decades. Addressing their grievances can go a long way in building a peace regime.