In These New Times

Air Commodore (R) Khalid Iqbal

Opinion Maker

4th March, 2012

Now is the time for a paradigm shift in international approach towards resolving the Afghanistan issue. This is the moment for a healing touch; it’s time for the occupation forces to disengage and leave Afghanistan at its own. Left to itself, Afghanistan would normalize after some constructive aftershocks. International community has wandered in the wilderness to find a viable solution for Afghanistan. Too many cooks have indeed spoiled the broth. Everyone had been giving own vision and wisdom; hardly any one cared to incorporate the Afghan perspective and sensitivities to ever-changing recipes. Formulation of Afghan crisis still continues, emanating from lack of consensus on policy and objective. A late January Pew Research Centre poll indicates that 56 percent, of Americans want troops removed from Afghanistan as soon as possible, while just 38 percent believe the US should stay until Afghanistan is stabilized.

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