It's Not War, It's "Kinetic Activity"

I learnt a new term last week - "Kinetic Activity". This is the term used by the US to describe the fighting/counter insurgency activities going on here. So in future, we shall not refer to it as the War in Afghanistan, but the Kinetic Activity in Afghanistan!

Anyway, the reason I came across this term is that I have been providing input to a new program that aims to build stability and economic development in "post-Kinetic" areas of the country. The thrust behind this is that once an area has been stabilised through military activity, a team of local experts move in to develop work programs, infrastructure improvements, health, education etc - anything that helps to stabilise the region long term.

This is in response to a lot of criticism levelled at the national and international forces that once an area has been secured, everyone moves onto the next hot spot. The vacuum left behind encourages anti-government groups to re-establish, starting the whole cycle again. It sounds obvious, but up until now this has not been a clear part of the planning.

With agriculture making up the largest sector of rural employment, the Ministry is putting together a program that can be implemented in the first 100 days after security improves, and then some further long-term actions after this. This will concentrate on training farmers as well as providing basic inputs including tools and fertilisers. There will also be a strong focus on veterinary services, and a poultry program to assist female farmers.

How successful this program will be depends on the support it receives from international donors, as well as the military, but we are all hopeful this is a significant step in the right direction. And we will know soon enough, with the first 5 districts selected and plans to get activities on the ground already well advanced.