How conflicting strategy may prevent stability in Afghanistan

Do read Mary Kaldor excellent piece over at Open Democracy.

She writes about Afghanistan and says

A surge will be pointless unless it also involves a fundamental change of approach. At present, there is a huge tension between the War on Terror, the goal of militarily defeating America’s enemies, and the goal of stabilisation and protection of the Afghan population

adding that

the thrust of the international intervention remains within a traditional security narrative that focuses on stabilizing the state militarily and prioritizes the hunt for terrorists and insurgents over the protection of civilians.

She goes onto argue that the various military tactics such as a reliance on air strikes as well as

other heavy-handed measures, such as torture, arbitrary searches, and detentions, have also damaged the credibility of the multi-national forces.

But what are the solutions?

Firstly she argues

a human security approach would end air strikes and reorient military tactics away from attacking insurgents towards protection and engagement at local levels

secondly

there is an urgent need to rebalance economic and military efforts and give priority to the provision of basic services and legitimate ways of making a living

Thirdly,

the key to both security and the establishment of a functioning licit economy is the establishment of legitimate political authority and an end to the culture of impunity