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- Title
US and Pakistani Perspectives on Counter-insurgency in Afghanistan.
- Authors
Soherwordi, Syed Hussain Shaheed
- Abstract
Counter-insurgency narratives are increasingly becoming a matter of global discussion, as Afghanistan suffers a protracted conflict. Practically, counter-insurgency is aimed at sowing the seeds of long-term peace in war-ravaged areas like Pakistan's tribal belt and Afghanistan. Theoretically, questions regarding the legitimacy of intervention over state sovereignty, and whether counter-insurgency as state policy can succeed, raise doubts over the intervention by foreign states. Due to the enormity and complexities of such a task, efforts to democratize Afghanistan and pacify Pakistan are recent examples of failure. The fact remains that the US 'War on Terror' in Afghanistan and Pakistan lacks the long-term commitment required for successful state-building. This intervention may initially gain domestic and international support but, as casualties and costs mount, states scramble to find an escape route. The use of extensive military force to eliminate the Taliban and its al-Qaeda supporters has not yielded positive results. The Taliban insurgency has shown greater resilience over the past decade, deepening its roots amongst the Afghan populace. The steep rise in the cost of the War on Terror has pressed the international coalition forces to adopt a counter-insurgency strategy to reduce their losses and move towards a face-saving withdrawal from the country. Given the intricacy of the conflict, with many actors involved in pursuit of varying agendas, the success of reconciliation and negotiation with the Taliban insurgents is questionable. Scepticism prevails amongst many Afghans about the possibility of incorporating the Taliban in a power-sharing formula. Will this strategy succeed or falter in the coming years.
- Subjects
AFGHANISTAN; AFGHANISTAN-United States relations; AFGHANISTAN-Pakistan relations; PAKISTAN-United States relations; TERRORISM; QAIDA (Organization)
- Publication
Pakistan Horizon, 2017, Vol 70, Issue 4, p47
- ISSN
0030-980X
- Publication type
Article