Contribution to Operational Command

Newsletter 2008/11/27 - Contribution to Operational Command

BERLIN/WASHINGTON/KABUL (Own Report) - Before the new administration in Washington takes office, a new transatlantic accord concerning the future war strategy at the Hindu Kush is in the making. This accord foresees a rise in troop levels to 20,000 soldiers, while the civilian-military accompanying component will be given more importance, as Berlin demands. In addition, efforts will be made to see if the loyalty of individual clan chiefs can be bribed. The
program is very controversial. Critics are warning that this would strengthen the warlords, responsible for the decades of Afghan civil war. The new strategy includes a large portion of Pakistan. The German government is already participating in the initiative, with which the
growing frequency of military attacks on Pakistani territory is to be supplemented with a non-military component. Berlin has doubled the "development aide" to Islamabad and reinforced its projects in the border regions with Afghanistan. As was confirmed by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the "civilian-military" cooperation, which is now to be extended, "has little to do with humanitarian and development aid," but rather contributes to the acceptance of the mission "as well as to operational planning and command."

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