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Rethinking Strategy In Afghanistan

S. Iftikhar Murshed, frm. Pakistani Ambassador | March 10, 2009

According to US envoy Holbrooke, Afghanistan is tougher than Vietnam. ++ The Taliban have the advantage of operating on their terrain and have a network of supporters providing them superior intelligence. ++ Thus, the mechanism of operation ought to be rethought in order to minimize the disadvantage. ++ Countries bordering Afghanistan plus the US, Britain and Russia should share intelligence to improve the accuracy of terrorist targets and "a concerted effort to win hearts and minds through mega-doses of economic assistance" is needed.

 

 
Tags: | Vietnam | US | Talebans | intelligence | Afghanistan |
 
Comments
Patrick  Edwin Moran

Thu, Mar 12th 2009, 04:54

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The U.S. is not the only country hindered in fulfilling some of its responsibilities by individuals in government whose model of leadership is domination in a way more appropriate to a king than nurturing through acting as a “servant of the people.” Ambassador Murshed’s brief history of Afghanistan may indicate that central governments in Afghanistan have typically had difficulty securing the allegiance of their own people because their attempts have been geared to compelling obedience rather than attracting allegiance.
Tags: | taliban | insurgency | allegiance |
 
Colette Grace Mazzucelli

Thu, Mar 12th 2009, 08:04

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Ambassador,

Thank you for your comments. I would be interested to know your thoughts about the potential impact of increased European contributions in Afghanistan on the civilian side, particularly in the area of police training, as a way to foster state-building capacity in country. Can a concerted multilateral effort on the civilian side working from the inside out in Afghanistan help promote stability in country and in the immediate neighborhood in ways that economic assistance, which can be channeled in other directions than where it is most needed, cannot? In which areas on the civilian side should the EU prioritize concerted action in Afghaistan during the months ahead?

Sincerely, Colette
Tags: | EU /Afghanistan |
 

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