Trapped in Afghanistan

The daily La Vanguardia comments on yesterday's attack on Nato troops in Afghanistan in which 10 French soldiers were killed: "The worrying thing about this attack is that it occurred just 50 kilometres from the capital, Kabul, and was carried out by a group of around a hundred rebels. This is a further indication that the Taliban has redoubled its attacks. ... The situation in Afghanistan has worsened despite the presence of 70,000 US and Nato soldiers, including 500 Spanish soldiers. Although in theory it won the war against the Taliban in late 2001, the West still has a long way to go before it gains control of this vast country. [Instead] it is trapped in the country after seven years of military presence. The government under [Afghan President] Hamid Karzai is so weak that it probably would not last even a day if the allies were to withdraw - and this would have grave consequences for the region, particularly in Pakistan."

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