“The fact that there are no longer large units of Al Qaeda running around means you don't need B-52s. You need intelligence and special forces. And, most importantly, you need to resurrect Afghanistan from what is literally the graveyard of countries and transform it into a normal country, which the Afghans want.” WantNeedsMeanCountryFactsRunningForceSpecialNormalAlsAfghanistanUnitsAl QaedaGraveyardSpecial Forces Author:Ahmed Rashid
“The strategy for peace-building in Afghanistan is economic aid, reconstruction, international security forces. On those lines, the U.S. has been extremely slow. And it has even blocked expanding security forces from Kabul to other cities.” Has BeensForceLinesCitiesEconomicSecurityBuildingStrategyInternationalAidsAfghanistanNational SecurityExpandingReconstructionBlockedKabulSecurity ForcesPeace Building Author:Ahmed Rashid
“Pashtun nationalism is reasserting itself. Its political history spans several hundred years. The Pashtuns are angry at the Americans because, one, they're still being bombed, and two, they perceive that the Americans are backing the Tajik faction, which controls the army and security forces in Kabul.” YearsStillsTwoPoliticalForceSecurityHundredArmyAngryPerceiveNationalismFactionsKabulPolitical HistorySecurity ForcesPashtuns Author:Ahmed Rashid
“The Pashtuns feel discriminated against by the Americans because they supported the Taliban and the war is still going on in their region with continued U.S. bombing. They are also disgruntled at the overwhelming power of their ethnic rivals the Tajiks, who dominate the security forces in Kabul and control the key levers of political power. Although Karzai is a Pashtun also, many Pashtuns consider him a hostage to the Tajiks and Americans.” FeelsStillsWarPoliticalForceSecurityKeysRegionsOverwhelmingRivalsBombingTalibanPolitical PowerHostageLeversKabulDisgruntledSecurity ForcesPashtuns Author:Ahmed Rashid
