Engaging the people provides a powerful incentive for peace

The news last weekend that Britain's senior commander in Afghanistan had ruled out a decisive military victory against Taleban insurgents came as no surprise to Daniel Taylor, head of a non-governmental organisation active there.

'Leaving the Taleban out of the process, believing [it] could be totally vanquished by military action, was one of two key mistakes after the very successful break-up of the Taleban and al-Qaeda resistance in late 2001,' he said yesterday, the seventh anniversary of the US-led military operation launched after the September 11 attacks.

'Not engaging the communities, the Afghan people, as allies was the second key mistake,' he said.

Dr Taylor, who is president of the US-based non-profit organisation Future Generations, will deliver an address tonight to the Royal Geographical Society, Hong Kong, titled 'Engaging the People - What's Missing in Action in Afghanistan'.

He called the assessment by Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith - who also intimated that the Taleban could be included in a negotiated political settlement - 'enlightened'.

'A lot of very progressive military leaders have been arguing right from the start that the 'Dick Cheney approach' was misguided and that we had other options in 2002,' he said, referring to the hawkish stance of the US vice-president. 'Now, some of these voices are being emboldened to speak out.'