War on Terror: Negotiations with the Taliban as the Path to Peace
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Afghanistan: Negotiations with the Taliban as the Path to Peace
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann,
Priority must now be given to discussions and a focus on solid, realistic solutions that lead to peace and stability in Afghanistan. Until now, the end-state of peace, and realistic options and routes to it, have been neglected.
This war’s cost in blood and dollars has increased dramatically, so a new longer term strategy to find a solution is needed.
Already three years ago, the World Security Network in its newsletter “Afghanistan & NATO’s Mission Impossible: A Radical New Grand Design Needed or Defeat is Guaranteed” had argued:
“NATO and the U.S. urgently require a much more credible political-military grand strategy for Afghanistan. A new and radical overall design is needed, or defeat is guaranteed. The West needs a new NATO Double Strategy of Power, Reconciliation and Reconstruction.
The Western nations must continue to maintain their forces there for some years to contain the Taliban and defeat the terrorists of al-Qaeda.
The advice of the legendary Pentagon strategist Fritz Kraemer applies for the new NATO strategy in Afghanistan: “There can be no diplomacy behind which there is no threat of power. But power alone is not sufficient. We are stressing facts and figures rather than the political-psychological. We are beholden to Anglo-Saxon pragmatism. Flexibility is a virtue unto itself to solve the problem on its merits. We do not look at consequences in Time and Space. Inner musicality is needed for a good politician.”
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