Afghani President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will jointly pay a visit to Washington on May 6 to hold three-way talks with US President Barack Obama. The objective was to exchange views on issues of concern including enhancing cooperation among the three nations and stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A core topic on the agenda is the "new strategies for Afghanistan and Pakistan" recently put forward by the Obama administration.
The "new strategies" contain two major points. The first involves the increased prominence of influence from Pakistan. Obama has said that, "The future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor Pakistan." Taliban forces recently advanced near Buner, a region only 100 kilometers away from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, something which has led Obama to voice "grave concern." US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said that the situation in Pakistan poses a "mortal threat" to US and international security. The US has criticized the peace agreement reached between the governments of provinces along the border in northwestern Pakistan and the Taliban, saying they are making too many concessions and letting the terrorists run wild.
The US currently has two major concerns: First, it is concerned that the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan would become "safe havens" and "base camps" for the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Second, it is concerned that nuclear arms from Pakistan may fall into the hands of terrorists, which would have catastrophic consequences.
In addressing these concerns, the US has increased its military assistance to Pakistan to enhance its ability to fight terrorism while demanding that the Pakistani military turn its strategic focus to counterterrorist operations.
The US also wishes to know the exact location of Pakistan's nuclear arms deployment to ensure that the weapons will not fall into the hands of the terrorists, a request that has so far been rejected by Pakistan.
Although the Pakistani military has made progress in its fight against Taliban forces, the US and Afghanistan still maintain that the Pakistani military is not firm in its commitment. The ongoing three-nation summit is designed to enhance mutual trust and dispel doubts.
Another factor in the "new strategies" is the sending of civilian aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said recently that the challenges cannot be overcome using military force alone, and that "this is particularly important in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where our ability to provide resources beyond military power will be the decisive factor."
The US has decided to dispatch more civilian officials and experts from various fields to Afghanistan and Pakistan while sending additional troops to Afghanistan.
According to Gates, following this addition the military force will total 100,000, with 68,000 US troops and over 30,000 allied forces.
In the current situation, there is neither the possibility nor the necessity for additional troops. He indicated however that the US will almost certainly lose the war if the Afghan people regard the US military as occupiers. The American aid personnel will therefore do their utmost to offer services and improve the living conditions of locals to win the heart of the Afghani people and to encourage them to desist from cultivating narcotics and Taliban recruitment. Meanwhile, the US will appeal to its European allies to follow suit and send experts to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Although the "new strategies" have been approved by all parties concerned, some implementation uncertainties remain due to the upcoming general election in Afghanistan and the unstable political situation in Pakistan.
One task the White House is faced with is to persuade Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to realize domestic reconciliation so he can focus his full attention on dealing with the threat of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The effect of the "new strategies" for Afghanistan and Pakistan remain untested.
By People's Daily Online
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