THE US yesterday outlined a controversial plan to organise local militias in Afghanistan to contain the growing strength of the Taliban, echoing tactics used by American commanders in Iraq.
The programme is formally an Afghan government project with UN and US backing, but much of the impetus is believed to have come from US military commanders hoping to replicate the Sons of Iraq militias – American-backed Sunni groups which have helped combat al-Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents. The architect of that initiative, Gen David Petraeus, is now head of Central Command, and running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Community Guard programme will be launched as a pilot project in southern and eastern Afghanistan. The US envoy, William Wood, said the programme was intended “to strengthen local communities and local tribes in their ability to protect what they consider to be their traditional homes”.
The British prime minister, Gordon Brown, proposed a similar scheme a year ago, based on a traditional form of tribal militias, or arbakai, but it was criticised at the time by an American commander in Afghanistan as detracting from the work of the national police force.
However, American objections have since been dropped as it has become clear that the combined strength of the Afghan army and the Nato force may not enough to defeat a resurgent Taliban, even with 30,000 US reinforcements expected next year after Barack Obama takes office.
Mr Wood noted that the number of Taliban roadside bombs doubled this year to 2,000, as did kidnappings, from 150 to 300. British officials said yesterday they supported the scheme in principle.
“We encourage and support more Afghan ownership, particularly on security,” a UK foreign office official said.
But the Canadian defence minister, Peter MacKay, said: “The tribal militia idea that has been around for some time now is controversial; we are not on board with that. Our preference is to continue with this more formal training process that leads to a more reliable, more professional soldier and Afghan national security force.” – (Guardian service)