Afghan insurgency challenging but can be tackled: U.N.

By Robert Birsel

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan's insurgency can be overcome, not only by military means but by building up the state and getting the economy going, the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan said on Thursday.

June was the deadliest month for foreign forces in Afghanistan since the end of Taliban rule in 2001, with 42 foreign soldiers killed in combat, according to a Reuters tally.

"We've seen a fighting season which demonstrates how challenging the security situation is," U.N. envoy Kai Eide told Reuters in the Pakistani capital, referring to the summer when fighting traditionally picks up.

The Pentagon said last week the Taliban had regrouped and coalesced into a "resilient insurgency" and they were likely to maintain or even increase the scope and pace of attacks.

"I do not want to deny that the security situation is very challenging but I believe that we can tackle it," Eide said.

"We can tackle it not only by doing things on the military side. I am concerned about what we do with regard to development and what we do with regard to political processes ... building state institutions, get the economy going," he said.

Such steps had to be put in place for success, he said.

"I've always said I do not believe in the military solution, I believe in the political solution," he said. Kai was in Pakistan for talks with government leaders after relations between the neighbors, both vital U.S. security allies, were strained by a flurry of Afghan complaints over Taliban infiltration.

The Pentagon said last week the greatest challenge to long-term Afghan security was insurgent sanctuaries on the Pakistani side of the border.

A frustrated Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, said on June 15 he might send troops to fight the Taliban in Pakistan.

Pakistan acknowledges the Taliban get some help from militant allies on its side of the rugged border but says it is doing all it can to stop infiltration.

Eide said the insurgency, drugs and refugees were difficult problems between the neighbors but he had received positive signals from leaders in both Kabul and Islamabad.

"What is now really important is to ensure that leaders in Kabul and Islamabad get into a political dialogue and discuss these issues and move forward," he said.

Eide, a Norwegian diplomat, arrived in Kabul in March aiming to improve the coordination of international civilian and military activities and cooperation with the Afghan government.

Eide rejected the possibility that the casualty toll among foreign soldiers might erode support for the mission in their home countries and said there was very strong commitment to Afghanistan from countries with forces there.

(Editing by Alex Richardson)