The lives of ordinary Afghans continue to be threatened by an array of issues that include food shortages, deteriorating security, military operations, the drug trade, corruption, persistent poverty, uncoordinated international actors and weak governance.

“…seek peace and pursue it” – Psalm 34:14

The words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are promising. On her first day in office, she addressed State Department employees by saying, “There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development… And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States. And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America's future.”

Of the many challenges facing the Obama administration, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will likely remain the biggest foreign policy challenge. During the election campaign Mr. Obama promised changes in the way that the United States conducts foreign policy. One major change that he has proposed is ending the war in Iraq and focusing efforts on Afghanistan. His pledge during the campaign was to get “off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and [take] the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

The Pentagon is set to send an additional deployment of 20,000 – 30,000 troops, which is nearly double the number of U.S. forces currently on the ground.

Afghanistan has been in a state of war, turmoil and instability for decades. It is considered to be one of the ‘least developed’ countries in the world. The lives of ordinary Afghans continue to be threatened by an array of issues that include food shortages, deteriorating security, military operations, the drug trade, corruption, persistent poverty, uncoordinated international actors and weak governance.

Following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan to oust the Taliban government, root out al-Qaeda, set up a democratic government and build up the country. Seven years later a guerilla war continues. Much of the country remains in poverty, with a weak central government in place and a booming opium trade making Afghanistan the number one poppy producer in the world. Military operations are now coordinated under the NATO umbrella, millions of dollars in aid have flowed into the country with little results and violence against civilians and foreign aid workers has steadily risen.

U.S. strategy in Afghanistan over the last seven years has primarily focused on military objectives, while the approach that’s necessary for a stable nation is one that supports the needs of ordinary Afghan citizens. Lisa Schirch, professor at Eastern Mennonite University and the director of the 3D Security Initiative, recently stated in an article that “expensive, short term solutions, such as the proposed additional 20,000 troops, might help quell violence in the short term. But without more promising policy options – such as a diplomatic and development surge … a troop surge won’t build a foundation for Afghanistan’s future.”

Secretary Clinton’s statement that diplomacy and development are essential tools in order to achieve the long term goals of the United States is a welcome change. We can achieve peace in Afghanistan but policymakers must work to refocus U.S. strategy from an imbalanced military one to one that prioritizes peace, development and diplomacy.