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Afghanistan is not a sideshow, it is not a theatre of minor political concern but it is being treated as an afterthought by the politicians of the countries that have sent their armed forces there. The armies of these countries, the soldiers and officers, know the extent of the challenge facing them but their political masters back home seem unable or unwilling to present the case or what exactly is required for a stable Afghanistan. It is not just that levels of violence in the country have been increasing but past gains are being squandered.
Parts of the country once seen as safe, can longer be considered so, according to a report by aid agencies. This report makes for disturbing reading. It cites an increase of 50 per cent in insurgent attacks since last year and a rising number of civilian deaths, which were caused mainly by insurgents but also by air strikes.
In a statement, the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief, an umbrella group of non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan, expressed its "grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the serious impact on civilians". June saw more attacks on aid workers than in any month since the Taliban's overthrow in 2001 and some agencies have been forced to scale back operations, it said.
It is important to state quite clearly that there can never be a military solution to Afghanistan's problems. The military can play a part but for Afghanistan to prosper there must, in the end, be a political settlement. That being said, if the military operation alienates the people, if the military operating there are seen to be ineffective and lacking the will for the fight, it makes any political solution harder to come by and increases the suffering of the Afghan people.
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