
On Tuesday evening, US President Barack Obama will finally announce his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan. After months of deliberation, the president is expected to announce an escalation of US presence across the Durand Line by more than 30,000 troops. This represents a 50 per cent increase over the 68,000 troops already fighting in Afghanistan.
Speaking at the US Military Academy at West Point, Obama will emphasise that the goal of the troop surge is to stabilise Afghanistan and help build and train the country’s military and police forces.
In the US, and especially within the Democratic party, there are many critics of Obama’s decision. They say that the war has become too costly – it costs US$ 1 million, per soldier, per year – that military casualties are increasing, and that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is too marred by accusations of corruption to prove a viable ally against the Taliban.
A recent poll by USA Today/Gallup shows that 57 per cent of Democrats favour beginning a withdrawal from Afghanistan, while 72 per cent of Republicans back the troop increase.
What do you think of Obama’s decision to send more troops to Afghanistan? Do you think a bolstered US presence will help win the war against terrorism? How will this decision impact the political and security situation in Pakistan?
The following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
Yes, it can bring fruitful results if the present government and our Armed Forces are fully taken on board. It is equally important for USA and Allied Countries to come up with a plan to improve infrastructure, quality education, health, jobs for the people of this region including Pakistan. The Democratic Countries should also ensure that Democracy will always be encouraged and those who have been riding “Two Horses at a Time” will not be supported. Our Armed Forces are laying down their lives for the better future of our country for which all Prayers and Blessings are with them.
My comments on various responses:
@ Sapan Kapoor:
What you wrote, I would have written the same thing. Unfortunately Pakistanis will not like to hear it because you are an Indian Hindu and if I had said the same things, they will say I am also a Hindu using Muslim name.
@ Muhamma Haris Abbasi
You said “It is not a good decision by Obama to send more troops in Afghanistan because this decision directly effect Pakistan. It will drive the Taliban in to Pakistan and made more problems for Pakistan.”
Pakistan is already in deep problem. Pakistanis are giving shelter and hospitality to militants and terrorists, the worst enemies of Pakistan. Pakistan Army is doing super job to fight and eliminate the enemies. Pakistan does not need outside help to fight the militants and terrorists. If as a result of increase in US troops in Afghanistan, more militants and terrorists cross over to Pakistan, that can be easily handled by seeking foreign military help. If Pakistanis themselves do not allow the militants and terrorists to enter in their villages or communities and tribes, then it will be much easier for Pakistan to deal with militants and terrorists without outside help.
I strongly believe President Obama is a true Christian and has no prejudice against Muslims. As an American, his first duty is to protect the interest of America but at the same time he wants to help Muslim countries in all possible ways.
We Muslims should consider America as our friends, not enemies.
Islam is the second largest religion in America after Christianity and growing faster than any other religion.
Some positive quotes to support that Christians are the closest Non-Muslim friends of Muslims. The love of Jesus has given to Christians throughout history a proper morality. In the Qur’an, God describes Christians as “most affectionate to those who believe” and says that “That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.” (Qur’an, 5:82)
Another positive quotes to support that Christians are the closest Non-Muslim friends of Muslims. In another verse, Christians’ positive morality is mentioned: Then We sent Our Messengers following in their footsteps and sent Jesus son of Mary after them, giving him the Gospel. We put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. (Qur’an, 57:27).
The elected government has very little control over them. So the Pakistani army should not be fully relied upon. Blindly funding the Pakistani military would amount to funding the Taliban indirectly.
US must collaborate with Pakistan as it does today – only with adequate accountability. In the meantime, Afghan army should be strengthened and expanded. The Afghan government must be encouraged to become cleaner and much more efficient to stand on its feet and defend its borders.
US should also analyze, why it’s and NATO forces not able to control Afghanistan. Because destabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan is in favor of India. Unstable Pakistan will not raise the matter of Kashmir. As long as Afghanistan remains unstable USA will be there and spend billions of dollars which will be used by Indian worker in the name of construction.
If India is so much concern of Taliban why he does not send his “brave soldiers” in Afghanistan where it’s all started.
If their safe heaven for Al-Qaeda in Pakistan why drone are not able to reach there.
This is the same US intelligence who reported Al-Qaeda heavens in Pakistan which also reported in UN that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
Pakistan is in denial and still living in the past.
World has changed. Using terrorists against other countries is a failed foreign policy. They created the demon of terrorism and now the same demon is ready to destroy Pakistani I say to smart and wise Pakistanis to learn the new reality and stop old policy of using terrorists to threaten neighbors. Survival of Pakistan will depend on what it does in next months. Terrorists will break Pakistan in pieces and throw her in stone age. Time is still there to join the civilized world and destroy terrorists.
Keep the Talibans and the Indians out of Afghanistan. Simple, Pakistan can handle the likes of TTP.
Absolute nonsense narrated by our president regarding the upcoming troop surge. Please explain how do you win a Guerrilla action, not a war when you tell the enemy in advance that you will be bailing out in the next 18 Months? Taliban may be cruel and inhumane, but they are not stupid! Basically the President told them to hang in there for 18 Months once the Americans leave all hell can break lose.
If I was Hamid Karzai I would be seeking a nice place for an asylum.
Pakistan is pretty much on its own.
If the President holds true to his words. Then he has not only declared the precious lives lost as waste. But, he will be Responsible for the massacre to ensue upon the American retreat from Afghanistan.
You don’t start a military action by declaring the exit. How is the US going to achieve the elusive success in 18 Months that has evaded them for the past 8 years? Mind boggling.
If stamping out terrorism in the region is the right thing to do, does it matter if it is accomplished by Muslim army or a secular army?
Why so much fixation on religion?
To: Sapan Kapoor
Before lecturing Pakistan what it should and should not do, it would be wise if you look at your own country and see how it has been involved in state sponsored terrorism against the Kashmiri’s and general Muslim population of India. Your country is just as much cause of extremism in the world as Israel is. India has been creating terrorism activities in Pakistan for last 60 years. The world is soon going to turn it’s attention to the terrorism in India. Solve your problems before giving suggestions to others.
All societies based on religion are steeped in dishonesty. In the name of some old faith deceit and self-deceit become the order of the day. This is especially bad in case of Islam and Islam-based societies. Religious leaders have a vested interest in keeping the population as fools to be misused in the name of God for setting up some fascist social hierarchy.
Sending troops is of no use – what is necessary is enlightenment against old faiths and religions.
@Faisal
Maturity and flexibility by the Taliban! It is an even bigger joke than the OIC. But alas, this is not a laughing matter. We are in this mess because the Taliban acted exactly the opposite back in Oct 2001, when the US demanded that they hand over Bin Laden and co. Their supposed maturity and flexibility at that time would have saved countless innocent lives.
Having said that, yes we should aim towards talking to them but only from a position of strength because that is the only language they understand. The US troop build up is a very bad idea and only time will tell how useful it will turn out to be. Ideally the US should involve Pakistan at the policy and strategy making level besides giving an ear to their genuine security concerns vis-à-vis India’s destabilizing role in Afghanistan.
As an American, I am saddened by this.
History is always a good indicator of what is to come and history is adamant and consistent that failure in Afghanistan is inevitable for any empire.
Especially now that a 2011 with drawl has been announced as well, I see this whole exercise as little more than a face saving tactic.
There will be one of two possible outcomes.
Either the with drawl will be delayed and the American public opinion further enraged against this futile exercise thus forcing the next administration to withdraw,
OR
The with drawl will be by 2011 as announced because this nation will not be able to bear the exorbitant cost of this war for too much longer and the weight of the public opinion would be squarely against this futile exercise.
Next 2 years will be bad for Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the final war of US in the region. This troop increase is the last nail in the coffin for the US foreign policy. Increase in the number of troops by US will create problems for Pakistani and Afghan people. US troops will start fighting in the Afghan cities which will be disastrous for the citizens in Kandhar and other cities in Pashtoon area population. Civilian deaths will sky rocket. This will result in more fighting with Taliban in the cities and more suicide bombs. Afghan people will be caught in the cross fire and no help will be available to them.
For Pakistan, people will face more suicide bombs and influx of refugees from bordering areas of Afghan provinces. Pakistani troops will face more pressure in Balochistan due to NATO and other countries insurgencies. The battle ground will switch from NWFP to Balochistan. US will try to start drone attacks in Balochistan to attack so called Taliban insurgency and they will try to create Free Balochistan to control Natural Resources of the province.
US has long term plans to stay but I believe if Taliban attacks on US troops will increase and more US soldier bodies will return, then in the next 2 years US will run away from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
They may send 100,000 more troops but the US Army will be unsuccessful in Afghanistan. They have been fighting and fighting and the Taliban seem to be growing stronger and stronger. The US is ineffective. Pakistan can do the job and is doing it. US Army would not have done in years, what Pakistani Army has done in months. Therefore, I believe we must understand that sending in more and more troops will not solve the problem.
The problem will be solved when those helping the Taliban financially are caught. They are the main cause of the problem. Without much reinforcement Taliban can not last long.
They will last forever if they keep getting guns and bullets constantly!!!
Well I am one of those Americans who says this conflict is too costly – especially given how it’s being waged.
What’s the point of defeating the Taliban/Al Qaeda in Afghanistan if they are only going to run across the border to Pakistan. We already did that years ago and Pakistan looked the other way and provided de facto sanctuary for them.
Although US is trying to win this war, but all efforts of NATO and US would be futile. Each country has right to protect her interest and same with Pakistan. Of course Pakistan cannot afford to have bad relations with Afghan Taliban’s and that would be nightmare for Indians because they have invested billion of dollars in Afghanistan and Pakistan has to neutralize Indian influence and that is only possible with the help of Afghan Taliban’s. US ofcourse put pressure on Pakistan but Pakistan need to withstand against this pressure as otherwise our security would be compromised. If US is asking to work against Laskar then Pakistan should ask to US to resolve the issue of Kashmir.
Each American soldier costs one million dollars a year, it means America will spend another thirty thousand millions dollars a year in Afghanistan. If half of this amount is given to Afghanis, America would need not to send any soldier in Afghanistan. No bombs, tanks and fighter jets can intimidate Afghans, but touch of dollars, riyals and pounds make huge difference.
The more they come, more they die and early they leave.
It is really surprising that Pakistanis are not supporting the American surge in Afghanistan. Pakistan is not in a position to clean border areas because of lack of resources. It is very important for Pakistan security that Taliban’s of all shades should be eliminated for basically two reasons. Bad Taliban’s will destroy Pakistan and Afghanistan and slow the progress of India as well. The Good Taliban’s will take every body to medieval period.
The only solution to the Taliban problem is a joint force of India and Pakistan. I know this will not be possible considering the Pak Army’s attitude towards India and Indian attitude towards the problems in the neighborhood.
Any Western Military will be a great debacle in Afghanistan, their numbers do not matter. Many of you do not know that British started a Military School called “Frontier Fighting School”, which developed essential drills for fighting in this region. 1930-40 saw many raids by Mehsuds / Pashtuns into Peshawar which the then British Indian Army could contain only after heavy causalities. Bottom-line, if you do not have the training in that terrain you will not be successful. Plus, it requires cultural understanding and respect for the enemy to win over him, which US army does not have.
Pakistan Army is the best inheritor along with India of that knowledge. But, who wants to solve this problem. Pakistan does not because they will lose the attention and the money. Nor India because then Pakistan will be free of this evil called Taliban and will pay more attention to India. And US, they are suffering for the fault of British that divided the sub-continent.
I think it’s not a good idea. It will weaken Pakistan. The idea is to make Pakistan weaker and decimate it by breaking into pieces. As long as I can see long term goal is to pack Indian forces in Afghanistan and crashing Pakistan in the middle. Politics are bad, simple minds can’t reach at that thinking level of politicians.
President Obama’s interest is what is America’s interest in the region. The US does not want a heaven for terrorists in Afghanistan, who ultimately attack America and its western allies. To that an end the US will deploy troops to stabilize the region and also disrupt terror training. We will train an Afghan Army and Police force to take charge of their own country. This ofcourse does not bode well for Pakistan’s military strategy to annex Afghanistan to give depth to the country. However, if Pakistan gives up this strategy and welcomes a free and independent Afghanistan – they can co-exist. I think the US does not want to help Pakistan in its territorial ambitions.
USA after 8 years still does not have a comprehensive strategy.
Troop surge is part of an exit strategy.
Obama administration has no solution.
India continues to interfere in Balochistan instead of becoming a partner in fighting terrorism.
USA have created a rift between the weak President of Pakistan and the powerful military by K-L bill for which the President shoulders full responsibility.
If the USA had spent half the money that they have wasted in Afghanistan and made a deal with Pakistan to solve the problem it would have been resolved long time ago.
Like it or not USA has to trust the GHQ and also focus on the Pakistani people and earn there trust if they ever want to resolve this issue.
USA also knows they need Iran yet the USA has alienated Iran.
Afghanistan is fast becoming Obama’s Vietnam.
Indian population should caution their government against intervention in Pakistan. As a stable Pakistan is in India’s interest. This is no time to be playing games. If India is serious about fighting terrorism then it should take confidence buildings steps with Pakistan, so, that it can with draw its troops from the border with India to fight the terrorists and join hands with Pakistan for the sake of the region and try to put their differences with Pakistan aside.
You know what. We in USA just need to leave these guys alone. Bring our troops and our resources back and help focus on our own economy and safe gaurd our interests locally.
We should stop sending our hard earned money taken away from us as tax dollars and giving as military aid, humanitarian aid and what not for people who care less about USA anyways.
@ Baloch
Fits well with your reputation in our part of the world (Middle East)