How they see us: A dangerous juncture in Afghanistan

The U.S. and Pakistan had better get their act together, said the Kabul Daily Afghanistan in an editorial. The U.S. keeps trying to “take unilateral action” against the terrorist bases in the Pakistani tribal areas, while Pakistan insists that it won’t allow any foreign forces on its soil. Already, we’ve seen instances of Pakistani forces firing on American helicopters as they fly over. Such unnecessary conflict “merely helps terrorists to grow stronger on both sides of the border.” We need “honest coordination” among U.S., Afghan, and Pakistani forces as allies together against a common enemy.

If we’re being honest, said the Kabul Arman-e Melli, let’s admit that Pakistan has never truly been an ally in the war on terror. The U.S. was “bewitched” by Pakistani intelligence officials who knew so much about the Taliban. It turns out that was because the Pakistanis armed and trained them. At least now the Americans have “reached the right conclusion and came to agree that terrorist nests should be destroyed on the other side” of the border. Pakistan is where the terrorists are; let the Americans go fight them there.

We’d certainly rather see the Americans bombing Pakistan than bombing Afghanistan, said the Kabul Rah-e Nejat. The problem is that all too often, when the Americans drop bombs here, they don’t hit the right targets. U.S. forces simply flail at the enemy in an “uncoordinated” manner, inflicting more damage on the innocent than on the guilty. The constant killing of Afghan civilians has led to justified “public anger” and even renewed support for the Taliban. Afghans who once welcomed the Americans as liberators now view them as occupiers.

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Then let’s get them out of here, said the Kabul Weesa. It’s time to “Afghanize” the conflict. “Afghans understand the mind-sets of their people better than anyone else. We can put an end to the ongoing violence.” If the U.S. wants a peaceful Afghanistan, it should “strengthen the Afghan national army and police.” If, however, U.S. forces continue to rain death on Afghan villagers, “there will be the possibility of incidents like the Sept. 11 attacks.”