How Afghanistan's present affects future of the US

History have shown that whenever Americans go to the poll to elect their president, domestic issues have long been the dominant topics on their mind. Economy, health care, retirement, employment, -- the list goes on.

But because of its sheer size and the influence the US has in the global arena, international issues has always been one of the centre of debate for just about all candidates.

This explain why the recent ninety minutes of forced cordiality between Senator John McCain and Senator Barrack Obama had to dwell into the issue of war and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan, two of the highest recipient of US financial assistance that are facing some serious political and security crises.

The two candidates talked about the moral obligations the US have to the world and the past mistakes, namely the abandoning of the Afghan people after the country had achieved its objective of chasing out the Soviet Union.

Today, the US-led international coalition forces are trying to correct this past mistake. But correcting this past mistake has to be more than just a manhunt for Osama Bin Laden.

In spite of the collective efforts by the international forces, the increasing number of civilian casualties has make it increasingly difficult for all concerned parties to convince the Afghan people otherwise.

Collateral damage is not the only factor that makes life difficult for the international efforts. More work has to be done to improve Afghan perceptions of their own government.

Already, there have been a number of independent reports about how Afghan government officials selling arms to Taliban fighters. Greed and financial gains appeared to be their motivation, not political leaning or affiliation.

Moreover, US commanders in Afghanistan, pointing to the recent increases in the level of violence in the country, are predicting that things might get worse before they get better.

Indeed, two decades after Afghan mujahideens chases out the Soviet troops, the American public and their presidential candidates are still talking about the negative repercussion of their victory.

But convincing the people of this war weary nation of the need to send more troops to stabilize a country that hardly ever know peace has not been easy. It has been seven years now and Bin Laden is still at large, while the Talibans are making a comeback, so what's the use, one might ask.

To better explain to the American voters as to why Afghaistan has to be save, perhaps the two leading presidential candidates need to go beyond simple rhetoric about moral obligation and the regretful mistake about leaving an ally at the time of need and talked about why Afghanistan matters to the region and the world for that matter.

Needless to say, an instable Afghanistan can make life that much more difficult for neighbouring Pakistan and India. Already, Taliban fighters are well entrenched in Pakistan's tribal area, threatening stability for the two countries, not to mention a source of tension with the US.

Moreover, an unraveled Pakistan could see Sindhi and Baluchi separatists leaning towards India. And while some hawks in the Indian security circle may wanting to toy with the idea of jumping in bed with the Sindhi and the Baluchi separatists, such course of action would not benefit India in the long term, especially in its quest to be a responsible, major global power.

Other then Pakistan, India is also surrounded by two other loose cannons -- Bangladesh and Nepal. It doesn't need any more headaches from the separatists.

The current course that have translated into economic success has been paying off for India but a failure in Afghanistan could set off a series of consequences that could threaten not just Pakistan but India's benign quest to be a power to be reckoning with.

In spite of being labeled the world's most dangerous country, Pakistan is salvageable.

With its expanding urban middle class, and the successive defeat of religious extremists at the poll and in battlefields, Pakistan's future may be hinge on well its military can keep the Taliban rebels from expanding into its own cities, as well as into Afghanistan, for that matter. If this means cutting a deal with some Taliban groups, so be it.