The US has a plan for Afghanistan

By Syed Saleem Shahzad - http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KH19Df02.html

KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai's chances of being re-elected on Thursday for a second four-year term received a major boost on Monday with the return from exile of ethnic Uzbek warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum, who has added his considerable weight to Karzai's campaign.

In the bigger picture, though, whether or not Karzai is re-elected, Afghanistan's troubled neighbor Pakistan, and its United States ally, are preparing the ground for a broad-based post-election consensus government that it is envisaged would play a pivotal role in defeating the Taliban-led insurgency.

The plan is based on one implemented in Pakistan last year which saw a pro-US civilian government elected into power. That government in Islamabad has had a high level of success in cracking down on militancy in the tribal areas.

The latest polls show Karzai some way ahead of his main rival, former foreign minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah, but it remains doubtful that Karzai has enough support to win 51% of the votes cast, which he needs to avoid a runoff with the second-placed candidate. Other challengers include former planning minister Ramzan Bashardost and former finance minister Ashraf Ghani.

Dostum went into exile in Turkey eight months ago over allegations of beating up a political rival. His unexpected return will solidify the support of the million-strong Uzbek community behind Karzai. Last week, the Pashtun president received a pledge of support from another powerful figure - Tajik Ismail Khan, a mujahideen hero from the western city of Herat.

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