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US finalises new Afghan strategy US finalises new Afghan strategy
(3 days later)
President Barack Obama's administration is close to announcing its new strategy for the war against the Taleban in Afghanistan, officials say.President Barack Obama's administration is close to announcing its new strategy for the war against the Taleban in Afghanistan, officials say.
"We're just about done," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm Mike Mullen said."We're just about done," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm Mike Mullen said.
Officials say that key objectives will be getting Pakistani help in the fight against extremism and reducing American expectations for military victory.Officials say that key objectives will be getting Pakistani help in the fight against extremism and reducing American expectations for military victory.
The White House expects to announce the new objectives for the war - which it admits is not being won - next week.The White House expects to announce the new objectives for the war - which it admits is not being won - next week.
Safe havensSafe havens
Officials say that the role of Pakistan is critical within the new strategy and that it must be made to realise that doing more to contain extremism is in its own interests as well as those of the international community. Officials told the Associated Press news agency that the role of Pakistan was critical within the new strategy and that it had to be made to realise that doing more to contain extremism was in its own interests as well as those of the international community.
US faces fresh Afghan obstaclesUS Afghan rethinkUS options after base closure President Obama is expected to explain his plans to allies when he attends a Nato summit in Europe next month.US faces fresh Afghan obstaclesUS Afghan rethinkUS options after base closure President Obama is expected to explain his plans to allies when he attends a Nato summit in Europe next month.
His priorities are expected to mirror 15 goals detailed in a 20-page classified report to the White House from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.His priorities are expected to mirror 15 goals detailed in a 20-page classified report to the White House from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Prominent among them are eradicating Taleban and al-Qaeda safe havens in north-western Pakistan, pursuing a regional approach to reduce extremism while simultaneously boosting economic aid.Prominent among them are eradicating Taleban and al-Qaeda safe havens in north-western Pakistan, pursuing a regional approach to reduce extremism while simultaneously boosting economic aid.
Another top priority is to ensure that the Afghan government does not collapse as a result of the Taleban insurgency - an objective officials say again can only be fulfilled by securing the co-operation of Pakistan and by substantially increasing the size of Afghanistan's security forces.Another top priority is to ensure that the Afghan government does not collapse as a result of the Taleban insurgency - an objective officials say again can only be fulfilled by securing the co-operation of Pakistan and by substantially increasing the size of Afghanistan's security forces.
Better governanceBetter governance
Adm Mullen said that the review addresses "the safe haven in Pakistan, making sure that Afghanistan doesn't provide a capability in the long run or an environment in which al-Qaeda could return or the Taleban could return".Adm Mullen said that the review addresses "the safe haven in Pakistan, making sure that Afghanistan doesn't provide a capability in the long run or an environment in which al-Qaeda could return or the Taleban could return".
He said it was also important to ensure Afghanistan remained stable and had better governance.He said it was also important to ensure Afghanistan remained stable and had better governance.
The in-house review was carried out by the White House National Security Council and details objectives over the next three to five years.The in-house review was carried out by the White House National Security Council and details objectives over the next three to five years.
Officials stress that the timeframe of the review does not mean that the US military will leave within that time.Officials stress that the timeframe of the review does not mean that the US military will leave within that time.
Gen David Petraeus, head of US Central Command, and Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, met more 12 senators to discuss the war on Thursday.Gen David Petraeus, head of US Central Command, and Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, met more 12 senators to discuss the war on Thursday.
Correspondents say that the meeting was part of the administration's effort to gather support for trimmed-down US objectives in Afghanistan, especially in relation to democracy and self-sufficiency.Correspondents say that the meeting was part of the administration's effort to gather support for trimmed-down US objectives in Afghanistan, especially in relation to democracy and self-sufficiency.
A key premise is that the military alone cannot win the war, officials said.A key premise is that the military alone cannot win the war, officials said.
But part of the strategy is also military, with the deployment of 17,000 additional troops this year in order to "buy time" for less tangible counterinsurgency tactics to take hold.But part of the strategy is also military, with the deployment of 17,000 additional troops this year in order to "buy time" for less tangible counterinsurgency tactics to take hold.