American Allies Imagine Paths out of Afghanistan

by Alex Thurston :: Filed Under Middle East / South Asia :: November 25th, 2008 @ 2:51 pm EST

Karzai calls for a timeline for ending NATO operations in Afghanistan:

He said if Afghans had “no light at the end of the tunnel” they had the right to pursue other options, such as peace negotiations with the Taleban.

Undoubtedly, there are personal political considerations involved:

The BBC’s Daud Qarizadah in Kabul says Mr Karzai’s strong comments show he is extremely worried about the dissatisfaction and frustration among Afghans in the south and east where the insurgency is high.

The call for the timeline is an attempt to win support back in those regions ahead of elections next year, our correspondent says.

Mr Karzai also demanded an end to “forceful entry” by coalition forces into Afghan homes.

“The arrest of Afghans in their homes, in the roads must stop by the international forces… This is the job of the Afghan judicial system and the Afghan police,” he said.

The war against the militants had to be fought against their “sanctuaries” in Pakistan, he added.

Our correspondent says Mr Karzai is clearly trying to distance himself from the foreign forces to regain lost popularity.

But that doesn’t invalidate what Karzai says. The statements of another top British military commander, Brigadier Gordon Messenger, reflect an analogous sentiment: a realism that says NATO should seek not perfection in Afghanistan, but rather to leave the country better than they found it.

“I don’t think it will be recognisable [as a democracy] in Western Europe, but Afghanistan will be something which will provide good enough security for the people. I think good enough should be what we look for,” the brigadier said.

His words, not mine. But while a lot of people might not like hearing that “ugly realism,” what’s clear from these comments is that two key American allies - the British and Afghan governments - are looking for a nonmilitary path out of the current situation.

That brings the British back to talk of negotiations:

The old warlords who reduced parts of this country to rubble in the 1990s, the al-Qaeda networks with sanctuary in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and criminal elements comprise an explosive mix of malcontents confronting Hamid Karzai’s government in Kabul.

Given that backdrop, it is not altogether surprising that many more diplomats now accept the possibility of talking to the Taleban - though there are always plenty of caveats and conditions.

“It is time to signal to those prepared to accept the Afghan constitution, lay down their weapons and who are not linked to al-Qaeda that there’s a place for them in an Afghan political settlement,” says British ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles.

“It is time to dismantle the insurgency by opening up a dialogue.”

So that is the prospect. Seven years after the defeat of the Taleban was being trumpeted as a victory over evil, they may once again be a part of the political landscape.

Talking about good and evil, as this BBC correspondent does, is not necessarily helpful. What Cowper-Coles is talking about, what Brigadier Messenger is talking about, what Karzai is talking about, are solutions. The current situation in Afghanistan is untenable. So instead of escalating, let’s listen to our allies and figure out a path toward a responsible exit. If that means talking to the Taliban, then let’s figure out how.

We’ve had 8 years of foreign policy based on fantasies: let’s turn to a policy based on reality and problem-solving.