The latest NATO offensive in Afghanistan took more time than had been planned and the combative Taliban defensive techniques cast more doubts on the US and NATO capabilities to win the war there. Moreover, NATO attacks forced Taliban fighters to withdraw to the Pakistani territories and ‘Operation Theatre' grew beyond the ability of the ground forces to control it. This gives rise to the following questions. Is there a military solution to the Afghan war? For how long can NATO forces continue fighting? What are the effects on the neighbouring countries? US and NATO generals do not see a near victory while the US administration cannot find a way to talk directly to Taliban. They encourage the Afghan government to negotiate with Taliban fighters, who distance themselves from al-Qaeda, but until now there are no reassuring signs that Kabul will strike such a deal. The use of airstrikes to pursue Taliban fighters will kill more civilians and cause a loss of loyalty to central governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The prolonged military operations hinder the chances of development and increased drugs and arms trade will further ruin the situation. While some politicians have said that their forces may stay for five years in Afghanistan, others have talked about withdrawing by the end of 2011. If many countries withdrew their forces the war would become American, as happened in the Korean War in the 1950s. If the Americans withdrew defeated and the Taliban won the war the destabilised area will be vast extending to nearly every inch of Central Asia. East Turkestan in China, Kashmir in India and Pakistan and Baluchestan in Iran would join the club. The Southern parts of Russia will be also at stake. The Abu Saiaf militant separatist group in the Philippines and al-Qaeda fighters in Indonesia will have their share. Therefore, the strategic dilemma, into which the US has dragged Asia, is either winning the war and boosting Pax-Americana or Asian countries fighting indefinitely, affecting their stability and development. India thought about forming an axis with Russia and Iran to maintain stability in Afghanistan. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin refused this Indian strategy, saying frankly that Russia had enough from Afghanistan before. Yet, Russia agreed to upgrade the Indian air force and will sell weapons to its southern neighbour at seven-and-a-half billion dollars. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad flew to Kabul one day after the visit of the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. Regardless of his rhetorical words about foreign forces in the region, Ahmadinejad went there to gain an idea about the possibility of early NATO and American withdrawal that would make his country a target for Taliban revenge. Besides al-Qaeda and Taliban, there are many conflicts between countries of the region, making Asia vulnerable to becoming the theatre of the Third World War. That is why Russia is accelerating steps to form a partnership with the West and a Chinese general has asked his government to increase China's military power. Whether America won the war or lost it, their front line would extend from the Middle East to Australia passing through South Asia. To stabilise the Middle East, US President Barack Obama should think about occupied Jerusalem. But Israel has just humiliated his vice-president and administration in general. The crisis between the US and Israel may develop into a large rift between Washington and Tel Aviv if the Americans incline to their own interests.
