NATO’s New Rules: A Positive Step?
Last Wednesday’s airstrike in the Afghan province of Logar created a wave of controversy as nearly 18 civilians (including women and children) were reported to have been killed. The event marked a continuation of a deadly week in Afghanistan and followed a deadly suicide bombing in the Kandahar Province. The airstrike has contributed to mounting frustrations in Afghanistan regarding NATO airstrikes in residential areas, which inevitability lead to civilian casualties. In response, NATO has decided to place new restrictions on airstrikes in combat engagements.
The news also cut short Hamid Karzai’s visit to Beijing last week and provoked his condemnation of the attack. Airstrikes have been a contentious issue with the Afghan government and NATO, and the recent tragedy on Wednesday has initiated a reassessment of strategy by NATO command. General John Allen has expressed his deep regret for the casualties in Logar Province and even met with the families of victims. A NATO spokesman claimed that restricting the use of aerial bombardments in residential dwellings “is a prudent and logical step in the progression in the campaign”.
The new restrictions also mark a return to similar rules put forth by General Stanley McChrystal which placed restrictions on the use of aerial attacks on residential areas. McChrystal’s rules were widely popular with Afghan leaders and contributed to a reduction in civilian casualties and insurgent attacks. The pursuit of Taliban militants in residential homes, however, has created a very delicate situation for coalition forces. While military forces must be able to maintain the resources necessary to effectively engage Taliban fighters, they also must be wary of the long-term effects of civilian casualties in residential warfare. The strategy of the Taliban indicates they recognize the difficulty of this balance, and have utilized residential areas as a means to turn Afghan public opinion.
The ethical code of the Pashtuns, Pashtunwali, is a critical cultural component to the continued harboring of Taliban militants and poses a serious difficulty for coalition forces. A main pillar of Pashtunwali is granting asylum to those in need, including Taliban militants who have sought residential areas as refuge when under attack. The Taliban have operated under the protection of this ethical standard since the beginning of the war and will continue to utilize residential homes as a strategic option to hide from coalition attacks. Engaging Taliban militants will require prudence, a nearly impossible demand for soldiers in unpredictable combat engagements.
The challenge facing coalition forces is to be able to conduct military operations decisively without negatively affecting long-term public opinion. Airstrikes, in this regard, have posed a difficult cost-benefit scenario for military commanders who seek to balance long-term objectives with effective military operations. A U.S. defense official stated,
“When there is concern over the presence of civilians, air-delivered munitions will not be employed while other means are available.”
The new rules may indicate a step in the right direction, and demonstrate that NATO recognizes that the long-term strategic risks associated with airstrikes in residential areas will outweigh their immediate benefit for military operations. Developing an Afghanistan which is favorable to coalition forces has been incredibly difficult, and civilian casualties have created a major strain on the US-Afghan relationship. So long as Afghan citizens view NATO forces as a greater threat to their security, the coalition will continue to lose legitimacy.
