President Barack Obama appears set to pursue a regional diplomatic strategy as much as a military one to prevent Afghanistan and Pakistan from turning into new havens for anti-US militants.
Despite his plans to send tens of thousands more troops to Afghanistan to boost stability, the Obama administration seems to be heeding expert advice that no military solution is possible over the long term.
Hillary Clinton, Obama”s pick for secretary of state, last week omitted mention of the idea of a military victory.
Appearing before a Senate confirmation hearing, Clinton spoke instead of “employing a broad strategy in Afghanistan that reduces threats to our safety and enhances the prospects of stability and peace.
“We will use all the elements of our power — diplomacy, development, and defense — to work with those in Afghanistan and Pakistan who want to root out Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other violent extremists,” Clinton said.
Remnants of the hardline Taliban regime, which was toppled during the US-led invasion in late 2001 to drive out Al-Qaeda militants, are now waging an insurgency against the US-backed government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
