US to Harness Afghan Militias Against Taliban

The US yesterday outlined a controversial plan to organize local militias in Afghanistan to contain the growing strength of the Taliban, echoing tactics used by American commanders in Iraq.

The program is formally an Afghan government project with UN and US backing, but much of the impetus is believed to have come from US military commanders hoping to replicate the Sons of Iraq militias - American-backed Sunni groups which have helped combat al-Qaida and Iraqi insurgents. The architect of that initiative, General David Petraeus, is now head of Central Command, and running the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Community Guard program will be launched as a pilot project in southern and eastern Afghanistan. The US envoy, William Wood, said the program was intended "to strengthen local communities and local tribes in their ability to protect what they consider to be their traditional homes".

Gordon Brown proposed a similar scheme a year ago, based on a traditional form of tribal militias, or arbakai, but it was criticized at the time by an American commander in Afghanistan as detracting from the work of the national police force.

However, American objections have since been dropped as it has become clear that the combined strength of the Afghan army and the Nato force may not enough to defeat a resurgent Taliban, even with 30,000 US reinforcements expected next year after Barack Obama takes office.

Wood noted that Taliban roadside bombs doubled this year to 2,000, as did kidnappings, from 150 to 300. British officials said yesterday they had not been given details of the scheme, but supported it in principle.

"We encourage and support more Afghan ownership, particularly on security," a Foreign Office official said.

But the Canadian defence minister, Peter MacKay, said: "The tribal militia idea that has been around for some time now is controversial; we are not onboard with that. Our preference is to continue with this more formal training process that leads to a more reliable, more professional soldier and Afghan national security force." MacKay said the issue had been debated at a meeting of Nato troop contributors in Afghanistan in November and that there was "no agreement around the table on it". He added: "Not all of the tactics and not all of the decisions made in Iraq are applicable in Afghanistan."

Critics of the plan said it would entrench tribal differences, bolster local warlords, spark sectarian conflict, and reverse the work of a UN-led disarmament project in the provinces.

However, US officials stressed that the community guards would not be based on the old tribal arbakai, but picked by local councils or shuras, which reflect the ethnic balance in each district.

"Once the group has been identified, they will receive training and clothing and other support," Wood said.

The volunteers would also be given the means to call for support from foreign coalition troops if their village came under Taliban attack, and, like the Sons of Iraq, they would be paid by the US. American officials insist, however, that they will not be giving out guns. It is presumed local volunteers will use their own firearms or be armed by the Afghan government.

One of the first areas where the project will be tried is Wardak province that straddles the main road between Kabul and Kandahar. The road has been made virtually impassable by Taliban attacks in recent months.

Yesterday another of Nato's principal supply routes, the road through the Khyber Pass on the Afghan-Pakistan border, was closed by Pakistan, as it launched a new operation against militants in the area.

Attacks on supply depots in recent months have destroyed 300 US and Nato vehicles, and truck drivers are increasingly refusing to use the road from the Pakistani town of Peshawar to the border for fear of ambush.

Nato capitals have been exploring the use of routes through Russia and the Central Asian republics as alternatives.