The Mythical End-Game

There is much talk of an end game in Afghanistan but apart from conjectures, suggestions and analyses there is nothing that indicates that some kind of end game has actually started or is about to start in Afghanistan. On the other hand there are clear indications that US/NATO/ISAF are going to be on the ground till 2014 perhaps with some marginal reduction in numbers. There are also enough reports that clearly imply that some kind of ‘strategic frame-work agreement’ is being worked out between the US and Afghanistan. This agreement will probably be for the period beyond 2014 and in this context 2024 has been mentioned. From the overt source information available it seems that US forces will stay on their bases in Afghanistan that will either be jointly manned with Afghan Forces or will be under ‘Afghan control’ with the US forces as ‘guests’. The transition that is supposed to herald the end game will translate into Afghan Security Forces being given responsibility for selected areas and a front line combat role. The US/NATO will be there as back-up with Special Forces, air power and Drone strikes. 

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SULLEN MULLEN

By Ghalib Sultan

US Admiral Mike Mullen rarely smiles. In fact in Pakistan during his 22 visits no one has ever seen him smile. Not that there is very much to smile about. The NATO/ISAF military campaign in Afghanistan is not going well as the Afghans fighting to oust the ‘invader’ spread their actions to Northern Afghanistan and strike in more and more ingenious ways. To make matters worse after spending billions of dollars the capacity of the Afghan Security Forces (ANA) remains poor and recent killings of US/NATO soldiers indicate that the ANA is penetrated by Afghan Taliban sympathizers. The July 2011 deadline for withdrawal is approaching and even in the areas of surges there is no stability. In fact ‘peace and stability’ in Afghanistan remains a pipe dream.

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