Kerry plan on Afghanistan lacks boldness: expert

The long-winding debate in America in formulating its new Af-Pak strategy is costing US credibility with its NATO allies and is also confusing both Afghanistan and Pakistan,a noted expert said.

The long-winding debate in America in formulating its new Af-Pak strategy is costing US credibility with its NATO allies and is also confusing both Afghanistan and Pakistan,a noted expert said on Monday.

Labelling influential senator John Kerry8217;s plan as 8220;lacking in boldness8221;,noted scholar Lisa Curtis from the Heritage Foundation said he did not provide a convincing case against implementation of General McChrystal8217;s specific recommendations.

8220;Kerry rightly admitted that a US troop pullout could trigger a civil war in the country and destabilize neighbouring Pakistan. Kerry in his speech at the Council on Foreign Relations had criticised McChrystal8217;s Afghanistan assessment for going 8220;too far,too fast,8221; yet he failed to lay out an alternative strategy for success,Curtis said.

He also acknowledged that the costs of failure in Afghanistan are 8220;very real. But his plan for moving forward lacks boldness and is unrealistic with regard to the ferocity of the Taliban insurgency,8221; Curtis said.

Kerry essentially argued against McChrystal8217;s recommendation for a significant troop surge on the grounds that the US first needed critical guarantees of governance and development capacity,Curtis said.

8220;The fact is Afghans need security and protection from the Taliban insurgents before the Afghan authorities are able to deliver governance and development,8221; she said. Such protection will only come if the US and NATO provide sufficient troop levels for the mission,she Curtis who often testifies before Congressional committees on South Asia.

Now that Afghan President Karzai has agreed to hold a run-off election on November 7,there is the prospect of resolving the Afghan political crisis sparked by the flawed August 20th election,she said.

Story continues below this ad

8220;The green light from Karzai should give the Obama administration the confidence to move forward with General McChrystals plan for increasing troop levels and implementing a population-centric counterinsurgency mission,8221; she said.

If US leaders truly seek to 8220;regain the initiative and reverse the Talibans momentum,8221; as Senator Kerry concluded should be the goal,then President Obama must adopt a realistic strategy based on facts on the ground in Afghanistan,rather than the political winds in Washington,Curtis said.

8220;And he must do it sooner rather than later,8221; she said.