The way forward in Afghanistan

By William Peterson

The leaked Pentagon papers in Afghanistan is old news.

Pakistan intelligence services, ISA, has had a long relationship with the Afghanistan Taliban and their own Taliban since the Russians were kicked out of Afghanistan in the early 1980s. In fact, in 2008, Pakistan made a deal with the Taliban in Swat Valley allowing them to take complete control and reassert Sharia Law in the valley. This backfired completely and the televised beating of a young girl because her face was uncovered totally changed public opinion against the Taliban.

Since late 2008, Pakistan has declared war on the Pakistan Taliban and undertaken major offensives in the northwest frontier provinces and taken re-control in Swat Valley. This has totally changed ISA's relationship with the Taliban from a supporter to blood enemies.

Pakistan's ISA does have a vital interest in Afghanistan and does not want India to have any influence in Afghanistan. They are involved with the Afghanistan Taliban on efforts to reconcile moderate elements with President Hamid Karzai's government in Kabul.

Karzai and ISA's efforts at reconciliation with moderate Taliban are critical because we can't kill our way to victory. Most Taliban fighters are only in it for the $200 per month paycheck and we should be able to buy their support and pay them $300 per month to fight on our side with village militias.

U.S. Gen. David Petraeus has finally gotten Karzai's approval to set up local village militias in remote valleys. This training local militias and paying them $300 per month will help local security immensely and help in luring local Taliban fighters away from the Taliban and to fight against their former bosses.

U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke has made major progress the past year in turning ISA's former support for the Afghanistan Taliban to them supporting reconciliation of the Taliban to rejoin society.

Pakistan is critical in our and Karzai's efforts at reconciling moderate Taliban fighters because of their past relationship with Afghanistan/ Pakistan Taliban leaders.

Afghanistan is a very tough fight and probably our biggest misconception is considering the Afghan Taliban as one cohesive, coordinated unit. They are not. We need to fight them one valley at a time.

The Taliban in the Helmand Valley have been separated from the Taliban in Kandahar, and a significant number of them are now working as village militia against the Taliban in Helmand Valley.

Col. William Peterson of North Liberty is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. Comments:

petersonarch@aol.com