Comments on Milt Beardens Analysis of Afghanistan

COMMENTS:–

1-I am rather disappointed with this article.
2-Milt does not realise that british occupation of afghanistan was a success story.The brits with about 15 lakh an year controlled afghanistans foreign policy and afghanistan did not harbour any anti british groups with success.

3-Afghanistans problems are centred in its neighbours.The USSR failed not because the mujahids were more martial butb because the USSR failed to realise that the centre of gravity of the problem was the pakistani base being used by USA and Saudi Arabia.A simple solution that the USSR could have followed was massive aid to India to mount a conventional invasion of Pakistan.As a matter of fact this if done in 1983-87 would have finished the Afghan problem.

4-Presently the Afghan problem is again centred in its regional neighbours.Now no one including Russia,China,Iran,Saudi Arabia and parts of the powers that matter in Pakistan do not want the USA to suceed in Afghanistan.

SEEN IN THIS CONTEXT THE USA ULTIMATELY WILL HAVE TO :–

1-Agree on a settlement of Afghanistan in alliance with Russia,India and Central Asian States.

2-Divide Afghanistan into a Northern Alliance led North and a wasteland of Talibans in the south.

3-Maintain air bases to pound targets of opportunity in the region

I think its a myth to think that Afghanistan cannot be pacified.

In 17th century Kabul had a Hindu Rajput Governor and Kandahar and Herat was Persian ruled.

I am surprised that respectable US analysts are so pessimistic

Agha Amin