Afghanistan and Pakistan: Reorientating Military and State Security Strategies to Regional Human Security

The Coalition is rapidly losing the war in Afghanistan, primarily for two reasons. Coalition action has failed to gain the support of Afghan citizens and Pakistan continues to provide safe havens, material, and moral support for the insurgents. Weak local governments in Afghanistan and the influence of regional powers are the key elements supporting the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Today the increasing trend is towards asymmetric conflicts involving insurgency, guerrilla war, civil war, and other forms of unconventional warfare that last longer, involve large sections of the population or even the entire population. When supported by regional powers this new form of warfare cannot be successfully addressed using conventional military means alone. There must be a reorientation away from the myopia of military engagement and a state-centric strategy to human security and a people-centred approach in the region. Democracy promotion and support for local governments, citizens and communities are critical elements in addressing the insurgency in Afghanistan