The War in Afghanistan: How to End It  

Later today I am delivering the Compton Lecture at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), I will be talking about Afghanistan.The core of my argument is simple – only politics will end the War in Afghanistan. The immense effort of UK, ISAF and Afghan troops is vital, as is the development and capacity building work that now runs alongside it. But – as with the vast majority of conflicts - the key is a genuine political settlement.This involves three things. First, the reintegration into Afghan society of low-level insurgents prepared to lay down their arms and accept the writ of the government. Second, political engagement with those disaffected by the current settlement, but prepared to renounce violence, split from Al Qaeda and accept the constitutional framework. Third, a wider regional political settlement that sees all Afghanistan's neighbours and...