The "Forgotten War": Whither Afghanistan?

[Demeter]

In all the excitement, some issues get short shrift. Here are two overlooked announcements to ponder:

http://quqnoos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1665&Itemid=48

UN renews NATO's Afghan mission But council expresses concern at the high number of civilian casualties

Written by Quqnoos.com
Tuesday, 23 September 2008 10:49

The United Nations’ Security Council has extended the mandate of NATO-led troops in Afghanistan by one year amid mounting concern over the number of civilian casualties.

The 15-member council unanimously adopted Resolution 1833, which extends the authorisation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) "for a period of 12 months beyond October 13, 2008."

But it expressed "serious concern with the high number of civilian casualties" in ISAF's battle to tackle "increased threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups."

About 70,000 international troops are stationed in Afghanistan, most deployed under NATO auspices to help President Karzai’s government fight a Taliban-led insurgency.

But the deaths of civilians in recent operations has sparked outrage among many parts of Afghan and international society...Last week, the UN said 1,445 Afghan civilians had been killed so far this year in attacks by insurgents or US and NATO-led forces, a 40% increase over 2007. US, Afghan and NATO forces have killed 27% more civilians so far this year compared to the same period last year...The text however made it clear that member states taking part in ISAF were authorised "to take all necessary measures to fulfill its mandate". It recognised the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet all its operational requirements and called on member states to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources.

France has announced it would beef up its mission in Afghanistan with helicopters, drones and other military means amid debate over whether 10 French soldiers killed there last month were poorly equipped.

In Washington, Afghanistan's Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak proposed creating a joint force of Afghan, Pakistan and coalition troops to operate against rebels on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border.

US administration officials are engaged in a broad review of strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan in response to rising insurgent violence, fuelled in part by the existence of safe havens in Pakistani tribal areas along the border.

http://africa.reuters.com/energyandoil/news/usnN23376448.html

US has no more troops for Afghan war until spring
Tue 23 Sep 2008, 13:26 GMT

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The United States will not have enough forces available to meet a request for more troops from NATO's top commander in Afghanistan until next spring at the earliest, the U.S. defense chief said on Tuesday.

"Without changing deployment patterns, without changing length of tours, we do not have the forces to send three additional brigade combat teams to Afghanistan at this point," Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"My view is that those forces will become available probably during the spring and summer of 2009," he said.