Reflections on Afghanistan - What next?

Written by Merlene Emerson and published in EU Chinese Journal on Fri 20th Nov 2009

I am pleased to have the chance to share the Liberal Democrats views on the situation in Afghanistan. Just 2 months ago in September this year we debated this topic at our Lib Dem Conference and called for a ceasefire and phased withdrawal of British troupes from Afghanistan. Why?

Whilst the Lib Dems supported the original UN mission in 2001 in response to 9/11 attacks, Al-Qaeda terrorist cells have since fled to neighbouring Pakistan. There have also been democratic elections held in Afghanistan with President Karzai returned to power without run-off elections. Admittedly there were problems with regard to the election with evidence of fraud in many regions however there is at least some political framework in place and a chance to negotiate a peace settlement. This must be the preferred route to the use of more military force.

What happens in war is that it is ordinary people who suffer the most. Since September, the military offensive against the Taliban in South Wazirstan has led to over 100,000 people becoming displaced and homeless. With winter approaching there will soon be a humanitarian disaster. To date, over a million Afghans have died from the three decades of war and over 5 million people have been displaced.

At the same time the number of body bags that have been returning to the UK and US suggest that the cost to the West is becoming unsustainable. Over 200 UK soldiers have sacrificed their lives so far. I can only sympathise with their family members and share their anger that they were put in harms way without, in some cases, adequate resources and protection.

Furthermore, if the original mission was to defend the West against terrorism then the on-going war will only have the opposite effect. We have a large muslim community in the UK and the on-going war has a very negative impact on the Pakistani community living here. I know this as I work closely with the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats and we have seen reactions from various communities who have voiced their disenchantment over the war.

Our leader Nick Clegg MP said that when he visited Camp Bastion in Helmand province he was stunned by what he saw. They have built what amounts to a small town from scratch in the desert, with some of the finest military hospital facilities in the world.

However he has also realised that after all these years, we are not nearer to victory. This is because PM Brown's Government lacks a political strategy needed for success in Afghanistan. Is it to remove Al-Qaeda, to wrestle control from the war lords, defeat the Taliban and/or stop the opium trade? It is morally indefensible to ask young men and women to risk their lives in an open-ended war. We owe a responsibility to those who have died in the war but we also owe a duty not to send more of our soldiers into harm's way without a clear exit strategy.

The alternative Plan therefore consists of this:

1. Calling for a ceasefire with the Taliban (including negotiating with the Taliban) and abandoning the 'military first approach' previously favoured by the US and UK.

2. Working towards a regional Peace Agreement and to involve Pakistan, India, US, and other countries with an interest in peace and economic development in Afghanistan.

3. Recognition that the UK has a special responsibility and duty towards the people of Afghanistan due to her historical presence in the region.

4. Focusing of resources towards strengthening internal security so as to pursue a programme of redevelopment within the country. The Afghans can then start rebuilding their infrastructure and improve living conditions for the population as well as the status of women.

In conclusion I believe we are at a very important juncture now (as I write this President Obama has yet to decide on how many more American soldiers he is going to send to reinforce the troupes out there.) The UK, US and our NATO allies need to put pressure on the Afghan Government to start negotiating with the Taliban in order to bring about a ceasefire. We then need to involve Pakistan, India and other neighbouring countries to ensure through diplomatic rather than military means a regional Peace settlement. This is the most realistic as well as pragmatic course to follow and would also be in UK's best interests.