Quadriga

The figures are shocking. Last month alone more than 100 ISAF soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. The number of civilian casualties rose, too. Morale is low both on the frontline and back at home. Governments of the 40 countries with troops in Afghanistan are finding it increasingly difficult to convince voters of the merits of the operation there. The conflict in Afghanistan is approaching its ninth year, making it longer than World War Two and the Vietnam War. Calls for a swift withdrawal are growing louder and more frequent. The Western allies are now pinning their hopes on US General David Petraeus, who recently took over as the top commander in Afghanistan. His strategy is set to remain the same as that of his predecessor. However, his rhetoric seems to imply that he will be taking a tougher approach. "We are here to win," were his words when he assumed command. Yet ever more observers are coming to the realisation that Afghanistan cannot be judged by western standards and hence cannot be stabilized according to western standards. General Petraeus wants to step up the involvement of the Afghan people in the fight against the Taliban by arming villagers.

Another plan is to allow the reintegration into society of members of the Taliban who have renounced violence and who recognize the constitution. The rationale of this strategy is that the situation in Afghanistan could improve if more concessions are offered to the Taliban. The next Afghanistan conference, set to take place next week in Kabul, will aim to bolster support for the Afghan government.

What do you think: Afghanistan - No Solutions in Sight? Write to us at: Quadriga@dw-world.de

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Our guests:

Andrew B. Denison

Andrew B. Denison- A political scientist from the United States. He studied both there and in Germany, and is an expert in foreign policy and security issues. He works for the Institute for Strategic Analysis in Bonn, as a researcher and author, and is director of "Transatlantic Networks", a research consortium based in Königswinter, Germany.

Jochen Hippler

Jochen Hippler – A political and social scientist who works at the University of Duisburg-Essen’s Institute for Development and Peace. Before that he was a research fellow at Bielefeld University’s Center for Interdisciplinary Research taking part in the “Control of Violence” research group. His emphasis lies on political violence, terrorism and armed conflict. He also focuses on intercultural dialog as well as the Near and Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Together with other institutions, Hippler is preparing an annual report on peace in Afghanistan this year.

Jan Meyer

Jan Meyer- A German journalist working in the “Bild” daily’s capital city bureau. His beat is defense policy. Together with Julian Reichelt, Meyer is researching the bombing in Kunduz last September, which was ordered by a German officer and in which more than 140 civilians may have been killed. Their book “Ruhet in Frieden, Soldaten!“ (Rest in Peace, Soldiers!) provides a sharp analysis of the conflict in Afghanistan.