World | Afghanistan
US commander says empowering Afghan leaders will put end to violence
The top commander of Nato and US forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday recommended a plan to halt growing violence by empowering local Afghan leaders, including former Taliban members.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:36 November 19, 2008
Washington: The top commander of Nato and US forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday recommended a plan to halt growing violence by empowering local Afghan leaders, including former Taliban members.
"That is the local leadership that we have to work with for a successful outcome in Afghanistan," US Army Gen. David McKiernan said while advocating support for district governing councils that are willing to accept the Afghan constitution and reject the Taliban.
"Reconciliation at the local level, of local fighters, of local influencers, potentially is a very very powerful metric," he said in remarks before the Washington-based Atlantic Council of the United States.
"This is a country that historically has had very little central government. But it's a country with a history of local autonomy and local tribal authority systems."
McKiernan laid out details of the strategy for engaging what he called "small-t" Taliban members, saying he is already talking to Afghan ministers about a prototype plan that would assemble district leaders into a shura, or tribal council, backed by western development aid.
Reconciliation with some Taliban members has already been embraced by US officials as a possible antidote to surging violence that has reached its highest level since the 2001 US-led invasion toppled Afghanistan's former Taliban regime.
US military officials have conceded that the United States is not winning in Afghanistan and that a 70,000-strong western military force cannot succeed without political, diplomatic and development assistance for the local populace.
Afghanistan
Afghan child labour may rise as aid dried up
People smugglers
Rebels 'to retake Kabul after Nato withdrawal'
Afghan woman killed for giving birth to girl
Afghan woman killed, apparently for bearing girl
Britain sticks to 2014 pull-out
It's a new start for Afghanistan
Afghans hit by rising food prices
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
