A Win-Win Exit Strategy for the Afghan War
By A. Khan
Chicago , IL
President Obama announced that he will send 17,000 more American troops to Afghanistan this spring and summer to raise the troop level to 53,000. It appears to be a Vietnam-like solution for ending the war. President Obama came in the name of change and yet he is following President Bush’s policy in Afghanistan. Surge in troop levels won’t accomplish the objective of ending the war, rather it would promote instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
In order to formulate a win-win exit policy, the policy makers need to understand the history and culture of Afghanistan; every bearded Afghan man is not a Taliban. Every Afghan woman who covers her face is not doing so under any duress: it is part of Pushtoon custom and religious belief.
What is our real objective in Afghanistan? The Russians and Chinese are looking at us to get out of Afghanistan. The Pakistanis have become suspicious of us. They are fed up with us. They are angry with us. They are almost ready to quit this war. They have paid a very heavy economic and human cost for this war. The continuation of drone attacks inside Pakistan is damaging public support in Pakistan. President’s Obama’s Afghanistan policy should be based on wisdom and not just a continuation Mr. Bush’s policies.
After the Soviets left Afghanistan, we left them in a state of misery. At this moment in time, the Afghan people remain the most suffering people of the world. Millions of Afghans are living in abject poverty. Then there are millions of Afghan refugees who came in the 1980s and continued to live in Pakistan. Economic conditions in the country are dismal. Karzai et. al have been involved in massive corruption.
Yes, President Obama can formulate a win-win exit strategy from Afghanistan by:
a. Understanding the Pushtoon tribal culture and Muslim religious sensitivities.
b. Assuring Afghan people that we will leave once elections are held and a democratic government is formed.
c. Improving economic conditions in Afghanistan by developing the necessary infrastructure and creating jobs.
d. Building schools and universities to educate children and adults.
e. Giving farmers better options to replace their opium crops.
f. Building energy project pipelines and giving Afghans their fair share.
g. Promoting regional trade to help Afghanistan stabilize its economy.
h. Assuring Pakistanis that we will respect their sovereignty and no attack will be carried out inside their territory, and the Indians will not be allowed to carry out covert operations inside Pakistan from the Afghan side.
i. Framing an economic development plan for Afghanistan-Pakistan border similar to the Marshall Plan.
President Obama should encourage all parties to declare a ceasefire and start negotiations to develop a blueprint for peace. Afghan people living in abject poverty, in conditions similar to the 18th and 19 th century, in the harsh mountain terrain, cannot be tamed with 21 st century weaponry. In this day and age, no one likes to be occupied. The solution to the Afghanistan problem lies in the economic and humanitarian aid and support. Let’s hope President Obama formulates an exit policy.
