LOCAL RESISTANCE

THE planned major offensive against the Taliban in and around Kandahar by Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) has been put at risk by yet another incident involving the deaths of civilians. In this case Isaf soldiers opened fire on a bus which had ignored warnings to stop and passed an Isaf patrol at high speed. Four civilians were killed, including a woman and a child, and at least twelve people were injured. The usual protests followed from local people and the usual explanations and regrets were offered by Isaf officers. This incident follows another in February involving a civilian bus in which 27 civilians were killed and Nato's Commander, General McChrystal, intervened personally with an apology.

The Kandahar offensive was to be the largest in Afghanistan since 2001. But President Karsai recently told local tribal elders that the operation would not go forward without their approval. The result was an unanimous expression of opposition by the elders and many other influential local figures. General McChrystal's reaction has not been reported but he must be beginning to wonder whether the strategy which he persuaded President Obama to adopt at the end of last year has any chance of working without the full support of President Karsai, which seems to be lacking, and in the face of local hostility.