Obama unveils new Af-Pak strategy

Washington:  After months of deliberation US president Barack Obama has outlined his strategy for Afghanistan, which essentially seeks rapid deployment of another 30,000 troops and a phased withdrawal from the country after a period of 18 months. In this time frame American and Nato forces will ensure that Afghan security forces have been properly equipped and trained to take charge of their own security.

In a speech to the nation, delivered at the US military academy of West Point, president Obama said that the new strategy allows a reinforced American and Nato military presence to tackle the Taliban and to secure the country's key population centres.

The new strategy would also allow the Afghan government and armed forces breathing space to deliver governance and security under a military umbrella.

From July 2011, the president said, the US and Nato would start handing areas of the country back to the control of Afghan security forces. His 'surge' is not open-ended but comes with a firm commitment for withdrawal.

This would be a powerful signal for war-weary Americans who have been signalling their disenchantment with the eight-year long war in Afghanistan, which so far has played second fiddle to an equally long and bloody commitment in Iraq. The 18-month time period would have surprised the American people who would be used to indefinite and vague promises for withdrawal.

The 30,000 additional US troops will deploy to Afghanistan over the next six months along with thousands of trainers who will train the Afghan army and police – a key objective to fulfil the promise of an early withdrawal from Afghanistan.