U.S. new strategy's success hinges on Afghan forces' ability

By Abdul Haleem

KABUL, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- President Barack Obama in a revamp strategy unveiled last Wednesday announced deploying additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in an effort to ensure durable peace in the militancy-ridden nation.

With the new reinforcement the strength of U.S. and NATO-led forces in Afghanistan would reach to over 130,000, while already more than 100,000 NATO-led troops with 68,000 of them Americans are stationed in the post-Taliban country fighting insurgency.

The new military buildup is taking place in the wake of Taliban-led militancy escalation and troops' successive failure to at least locate Taliban fugitive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and curb insurgency.

A glance to the past eight years and consistent troops' rush indicates that military buildup has failed to root out militants and bring about lasting peace in the war-torn Afghanistan.

The new strategy in addition to strengthening Afghan security forces also includes the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, begins in mid 2011 depending on the situation on the ground, if so, it would double the burden of fledgling Afghan army.

Afghanistan which has some 86,000 troops at the moment, is striving to have a strong-134,000 new brand army by mid 2011.

Arrival of fresh troops as President Obama announced would begin within months and bringing the number of U.S. military to 98,000. NATO countries has also pledged to contribute 7,000 new troops to bolster war on Taliban and associated militants.

Taliban militants have dramatically spearheaded their activities in the face of the well-equipped U.S. and NATO-led troops while their number according to estimation is no more than 20,000.

Many Afghans are of the view that supporting Afghan security forces, Afghanization of military operations and giving lead to Afghan troops would reduce sensitivity against foreign forces and help win the support of locals.

"Supporting Afghan security forces and giving lead role in combat operation would boost the morale of Afghans to isolate militants," a war-veteran and former chief of Defense Commission of parliament Retired General Noorul Haq Alomi maintained.

"Increasing troops to bolster the war on terror is good but strengthening Afghan national security forces is best as it can win more local support," the former army general and sitting legislator Alomi told Xinhua.