NATO has informed of 8% drop in insurgency in 2011. NATO, in its report published on Thursday, January 26, has related this decrease in terrorist activities to increased counter-insurgency operations carried out by the foreign forces in the country during 2011. It is to be said that the military pressure on Taliban and other insurgent groups has paid off and produced tangible results in terms of liberating districts from the bondage of Taliban and the nightmare of their presence and terrorist activities.

It is clear cut that Taliban and other insurgent groups are not able to deliver education, health and other services to the people living in the areas controlled by them. So when those areas are freed from the Taliban control, there are education, health cares and other services.

Delivery of government services can be a great incentive for local people to come forward to help Afghan security forces and international forces to force out the Taliban and other insurgent groups from those areas. But unfortunately Afghan government has failed to use this incentive and muster public support for the case of securing and stabilizing the country.

Instead of mobilizing the people in support of expansion of the government's writ, president Karzai has often provided pretext for the Taliban and other insurgents to use civilians as a shield against NATO and Afghan security forces' operations.

For instance, when president Karzai threatened to join the Taliban and declare international forces as occupiers, it was in favor of the Taliban militants in terms of carrying out their campaign propaganda to infiltrate into localities in areas where they maintain their sway.

According to NATO's new report, Afghan security forces have gained more strength to take over the security responsibility of the country. It is clear cut that it gives Afghan people a feeling of happiness to see and witness their own national army and police assuming the responsibility for security of the country.

But unfortunately the ongoing withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan, the confused peace process and president Karzai's skewed policies are the factors that obscure the future of security, peace and stability in the country. Presently, the attention has shifted from military pressure on the insurgent outfits to the political settlement and negotiation with the Taliban militants.

The myth that all wars end through negotiation is the principle that guides the words and actions of Afghan and international officials. This may provide the chance for the Taliban to escape the military pressure and begin to regroup and prepare themselves for the post-withdrawal period.