Only political - not military - means can neutralize Afghan insurgency: Munir Akram

NEW YORK - Former Pakistan U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram Wednesday voiced concern over India's role in the proposed U.S. Afghan strategy, and said that the insurgency in Afghanistan could only be neutralized by political means, not militarily.
Speaking to an audience of students and academics, he said the induction of 17,000 additional US troops will provoke more violence. The move, which he described as "fatal weakness", had already driven the Taliban groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan into an alliance to unify their operations against U.S.-led coalition forces.
In a comprehensive critique of the strategy, which was unveiled by President Barack Obama on Friday, he said the inclusion of India in the proposed contact group, which would deal with some of Pakistan’s vital national security issues, would be a "huge problem".
The strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan focuses on crushing Al-Qaeda. But the former Pakistani diplomat said Al-Qaeda would be defeated only if the political oxygen of its ideology and message was cut off.
Continued reliance on the use of military force was not the answer, he said. "Intensified aerial attacks on Pakistan’s territory and pressure on the Pakistan Army to enlarge its operations in the frontier will evoke more terrorist retaliation in Pakistan and could erode the willingness of its government and armed forces to participate in 'America’s War.'"
"What is required is a strategy to win over the tribes and to separate the Taliban and other Islamic militants in the area from Al-Qaeda and its leaders, so that they can no longer hide in the Taliban and Pashtuns," he said while delivering a lecture at the Nassau Community College on Long Island.
"An anti-Al-Qaeda strategy must also attempt to neutralize Al-Qaeda’s ideological appeal in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other parts of the world from which it finds its recruits," he said while identifying
several weaknesses, gaps and contradictions in the strategy.
"It is fortunate that President Obama has stated that the new US strategy will be reviewed and modified as required," Akram said, adding
"I trust that this critique of the strategy, outlined from the Pakistani perspective, will be viewed by the concerned officials in Washington as constructive."
While welcoming the move to negotiate with the Taliban, the former Pakistani diplomat said the idea of accommodating only "moderate” Taliban is unlikely to succeed, specially now that the insurgents have a momentum.
"There is no option but to open the door of negotiations to all Taliban and insurgent groups and discuss with them power-sharing arrangements at the local, provincial and ultimately national levels, he said. "It will have to include a programme for the eventual withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, perhaps timed to coincide with the creation of a genuinely Afghan national army and an effective police force."