Threat of civil war in Afghanistan

More than 60 people died in Afghanistan on Tuesday in a series of terrorist attacks. There is the danger that a new war will break out once the international troops withdraw in 2014, writes the liberal-conservative daily Die Presse: "After the Red Army withdrew from the country in 1989 the US stopped backing the Mujahideen who had inflicted heavy losses on the Soviets for years. A civil war broke out. Will history repeat itself? Back then, as now, there was too little backing for the central government in Kabul - while the rebels in countries like Pakistan and also Iran were given support. Pakistan sees the Taliban as a fifth column and fears India's growing influence. The Tajic groups in the north are seeking help from Iran and India. ... They have the same arch-enemy as India: Pakistan. The US must rethink its Pakistan policy: for too long Washington has seen the military and intelligence service as its most important contacts and so prevented the strengthening of the elected government and civilian society. And in Afghanistan? One can only hope that at least some of the money that will be saved by withdrawing the troops will be put into humanitarian projects - so at least there's a glimmer of hope."

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