Afghans: US Intentionally Fostering Instability

Many Afghans believe the US is purposely avoiding attacking Taliban strongholds in Pakistan in an effort to keep Afghanistan destabilized and justify a continued military presence, according to Anis, the country’s state-run newspaper. Such suspicions have long run through the country, but their appearance in the paper could be a sign the government is impatient with its top backer, Reuters reports.

A belief that Pakistan is backing the Taliban insurgency has soured relations between the countries, and Afghan president Hamid Karzai has grown increasingly critical of his Western allies, who have made only limited strikes within Pakistan. “The people have the right to think that there is something in the wind,” Anis wrote. “No one believes stability and peace will be restored” until the Taliban are routed. (More Afghanistan stories.)