Appeal of Taliban fading, ISAF commander says

Dubai: "The appeal of the Taliban is fading, and the Taliban's narrative is becoming stale," said a confident General John Allen, commander of the International Security Force in Afghanistan (ISAF).

Allen forcefully denied there was any confusion in ISAF tactics of both keeping up military pressure on the insurgents while at the same time seeking dialogue to find a political solution.

"We will pressure the insurgency, so they cannot find a military win," he said.

"As in any insurgency, they need to know that they cannot win by continuing to fight.

"In addition, we are helping to create a strong Afghan force, to which we will facilitate transition."

Military pressure

He added that one of the problems with the 2005-2007 period was that there was not enough military pressure on the Taliban, allowing them to restart their operations.

Allen was briefing the press in Dubai on the sidelines of a Nato conference.

ISAF is supporting the Afghan government in two processes: reconciliation, which is the opening of political dialogue with leaders in the Taliban who might cease operations; and re-integration, an organised programme under which insurgents stop fighting and go home.

To date more than 3,000 Taliban have taken the option to go home, and by doing so have earned some advantages from the government for their community, Allen said, although he thought many more might have simply gone home on their own without registering with the government. The formal programme has built on the American experience in Iraq's Anbar province, and seeks to improve on it.

The reward for stopping fighting goes well beyond a simple payment to the individual. In Afghanistan, the person's community is required to take responsibility, meaning village elders and tribal leaders have to guarantee the former insurgent. In return, the community attracts special government spending and vocational training for the former fighters.

Looking ahead to the watershed year of 2014, Allen described it as one of significant changes for Afghanistan. He listed the transition of responsibility for security to Afghan forces from ISAF.

But in addition, there will be presidential elections under which a new administration will come to power. Since President Hamid Karzai cannot run for another term, there will be a transfer of authority within Afghanistan. The hoped for success of this process will give a strong boost to those supporting the permanence of Afghan institutions.

Nato attack probe

The US is carrying out a full investigation of the November 26 attack on two Pakistani border posts, in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and will share the results in full with the Pakistani authorities, Allen said.

"The investigating team is not under my authority but reports to Central Military Command," Allen said. "It includes a former Special Operations officer, a Canadian officer representing Nato, an Afghan officer, and a place was offered to Pakistan although it did not wish to take up the offer."