America’s Afghan mirage is toiling. Yet Washington refuses to learn lessons. Its insurmountable belief that it can win the war in one of the world’s difficult and hostile terrain is nothing but a faux pas. If history is any evidence, the marshland between Central Asia and the northern plateaus of Hindu Kush has never fallen at the hands of intruders and conquerors, rather making them bleed and get buried.
Thus America’s illusion to march across Afghanistan remains an unrealistic obsession. The contention on the part of deputy commander of US forces in Afghanistan Lt Gen David Rodriguez that it can win the war even if Pakistan does not shut down militant safe havens on its side of the border is over-fetched. This aspect of thinking has landed Washington in dire straits in the region, compelling it to look for an exit strategy, when faced with an unrelenting backlash from terror outfits.
The US commander furthers his argument by hoping that Pakistan must do more to defeat the militants at home. This is itself an anti-thesis of his earlier assumption. Such loud mouthing in public has been the prime reason behind the widening gap between both the countries, which has endangered strategic cooperation in their fight against terrorism. The multi-layered cooperation underway between the United States and Pakistan is in need of re-orientation, and it would be better advised to look for political and social avenues of cooperation than stressing merely on the militaristic aspect. The US frustration about Pakistan’s reluctance to take on militants in the restive tribal areas bordering the Durand Line should be put to rest, and that can only be done at the hands of a complex debriefing that dilates the pros and cons of reservations by either parties.
Apart from this bilateralism conundrum, the US should seriously ponder over its strategy in this part of the world. Each passing day is eroding its influence in the region, and coupled with drone attacks, the win is becoming unwinnable by any means. Rather than chest thumping, a deep introspection is the need of the hour.
(Courtesy:Khaleej times)
Thus America’s illusion to march across Afghanistan remains an unrealistic obsession. The contention on the part of deputy commander of US forces in Afghanistan Lt Gen David Rodriguez that it can win the war even if Pakistan does not shut down militant safe havens on its side of the border is over-fetched. This aspect of thinking has landed Washington in dire straits in the region, compelling it to look for an exit strategy, when faced with an unrelenting backlash from terror outfits.
The US commander furthers his argument by hoping that Pakistan must do more to defeat the militants at home. This is itself an anti-thesis of his earlier assumption. Such loud mouthing in public has been the prime reason behind the widening gap between both the countries, which has endangered strategic cooperation in their fight against terrorism. The multi-layered cooperation underway between the United States and Pakistan is in need of re-orientation, and it would be better advised to look for political and social avenues of cooperation than stressing merely on the militaristic aspect. The US frustration about Pakistan’s reluctance to take on militants in the restive tribal areas bordering the Durand Line should be put to rest, and that can only be done at the hands of a complex debriefing that dilates the pros and cons of reservations by either parties.
Apart from this bilateralism conundrum, the US should seriously ponder over its strategy in this part of the world. Each passing day is eroding its influence in the region, and coupled with drone attacks, the win is becoming unwinnable by any means. Rather than chest thumping, a deep introspection is the need of the hour.
(Courtesy:Khaleej times)
