We have argued, therefore, for a comprehensive strategy against militancy and for pacification on both sides of the Durand Line. The involvement of the international community in Afghanistan must lead to a strong civil society and the rule of law. Women should be emancipated, young girls given the opportunity for education and for freedom of belief and expression to be promoted. There should be a credible government at both the centre and in the provinces that does not tolerate corruption. In particular, there should be an effective policy against drugs that does not penalise the farmers but makes it impossible for extremists to finance themselves by means of an illicit trade in drugs.

All of this is achievable. What is required, most of all, is the will to deliver and a commitment for the medium-term which will not be vulnerable to shifting sands of popular opinion, especially at election time.

At last, Barack Obama has decided to send in more American troops to secure crucial areas of Afghanistan, including leading cities such as Kandahar, from attack and occupation.  British and some other Nato forces will also be augmented. However belated, this decision is to be welcomed and will reassure many in Afghanistan and Pakistan who have been waiting anxiously for it.

Obama is, of course, engaged in a careful balancing act. On the one hand, he has vital US interests, at home and abroad, to consider; on the other, his vociferous and influential anti-war lobby. It seems that the announcement of an exit strategy at the same time as the increase in troop numbers is part of this attempt to keep everyone happy.  As has been pointed out, however, this is very dangerous.  It gives the Taliban a date when the pressure on them will begin to decrease and they will, therefore, be able to plan for increased activity. It will further demoralise anti-Taliban Afghan groups and also those in Pakistan who have been arguing for an anti-extremist policy in that country. The temptation for Pakistan and other regional powers to make a deal with the Taliban will increase.

It should be said clearly that any increase in Taliban influence and control, whether in Pakistan or Afghanistan, will not only mean that the security situation in the region deteriorates further, but it will also directly or indirectly affect Western interests. It will, once again, be possible to harbour those who plan to terrorise the West and also to train those from Western countries wishing to pursue their extremist agenda in the West. Last but not least, it will mean returning significant sections of the population in the region to captivity, cruelty and barbarism.

It would have been enough to have said that the US and its allies would leave only "when the job is done" but that they would increase efforts to hand over security matters to properly trained Afghan troops as soon as possible, without mentioning any dates, even if these are only about the beginnings of a withdrawal and even if they are conditional on the security situation as it is then. in the west and north. This would also assist Afghanistan and the international forces in making sure that militants under pressure on one side of the border do not flee to the other. With the dangers of militancy removed, there is also a greater chance for a semblance at least of democracy to emerge in the new Central Asian republics. These are important gains and we must not lose sight of them.