Hillary Clinton unveils Af-Pak regional stabilisation strategy

Weeks after US announced sending 30,000 new forces to Afghanistan, secretary of state Hillary Clinton today unveiled a long-term, non-military strategy to stabilise Afghanistan and Pakistan, that provides for sending more civilian experts to the region.

Just before a crucial conference on the future of Afghanistan opens in London, the new Clinton strategy involves bringing militants back to mainstream, improving governance and transparency, and rebuilding the farm sector in the war-torn nation.

A key part of the new American strategy also aims at boosting Pakistan’s capabilities to tackle Islamist militancy, and to turn Washington’s relations with Kabul and Islamabad into a long-haul partnership by supporting democratic elements and stepping up economic reforms.