Editorial: Change in NATO command means new era in war on terror

British troops have taken over NATO command in Afghanistan, and Britain has already stationed troops in the southern province of Helmand. Besides assisting in strengthening security, British troops will also help rebuild the country. The most important thing is the change in the means of fighting terrorism. No doubt the Europeans who wanted to have a larger role in Afghanistan under the NATO flag will face more challenges particularly in the south of the country. One of the main challenges is winning the hearts and minds of people in villages by respecting their traditions. Entering their houses without permission and arresting them on charges of having links with terrorists will only provoke them. British troops have to prove that they respect the traditions of the people and have really come here to serve Afghans. They have to remember that the axe attack on a foreign soldier by a 16-year-old boy in Kandahar a few months back is an indication of the anti-foreign troops’ sentiment among the locals who do not want others to enter their houses without permission. In a word, if British troops want to serve the Afghan people they should control the actions of servicemen through the Afghan government and provide job opportunities to locals instead of detaining them on suspicion of being terrorists as has been happening in Helmand and Uruzgan. So, it should be kept in mind that this is not the end of war, but rather the beginning of a new era of the war on terror.