The explicit purpose of the comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is  to ward off terrorist threats from the region.  "For the American people," President Obama declared, "the border region [between Afghanistan and Pakistan] is the most dangerous place in the world."  Obama believes that al Qaeda is plotting another international attack from the border region.  In order to prevent the threat from materializing, U.S. policy must focus on securing and stabilizing Afghanistan.  National security interests provide the rational foundation for President Obama's decision to invest further military and diplomatic resources in the Afghan operation.

Afghanistan's central location links its fate to numerous other states in the Middle East and Asia.  Iran and Pakistan have explicit interests in the stabilization of Afghanistan.  Obama's new strategy will focus specifically on engaging Pakistan and its intelligence resources to fight Taliban insurgents that have a base in western Pakistan.  It also pledges to facilitate frequent regional meetings including Pakistan and Afghanistan.  An upcoming conference on the future of Afghanistan will include NATO members and Iran, among others.

Subsequent to the initial increase of American forces in Afghanistan by 17,000, the new strategy further increases American trainers by 4,000.

Obama's strategy will send 4,000 U.S. forces to train the Afghan military and police.  The goal is to prepare 134,000 Afghan military personnel and 82,000 police personnel to secure the country.  Training Afghan forces will insure that the Afghan government will be capable of providing for its own security once American and NATO troops withdraw. 

 

In order to combat corruption, US political officials will promote a new political compact that commits Afghan pols to honest governance.  US political teams will also work to foster regional reconciliation, particularly in zones where the Taliban was formerly prominent.

 

The strategy offers both general and border-specific prescriptions for Pakistan.  Generally, it endorses a bill offering $1.5 Billion in direct infrastructural and humanitarian aid to Pakistanis in each of the next five years.  While Obama seeks a close military and intelligence partnership with the Pakistanis, he makes it clear that US policy is independent and provides "no blank check." 

 

Specifically, he argues that the US will act to eliminate threats in the border region, "one way or another."  Obama pledges to continue training Pakistani military forces to secure the border and endorses legislation that would help build opportunity zones along the border region. 

The number of American civilian officers in Afghanistan will increase, particularly in the foreign service.  The goal is to strengthen non-military institutions, particularly those that form the foundation for democratic governance.  The specifics of these efforts will be determined later.

 

The strategy also commits to facilitate a stronger tri-partite dialogue with the US, India and Pakistan.