WASHINGTON, Oct 11: Frustrated by a potential failure in Afghanistan, the United States is scrambling to forge a new strategy expanding tribal militias’ power, The Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday.

While relying less on the central government in Kabul, “US forces would scale back combat operations to focus more on training Afghan government forces and tribal militias,” the report said.

“The plan is controversial because it could extend the influence of warlords while undermining the government of President Hamid Karzai,” it said, noting that such a plan also could stoke rivalries between security units in Afghanistan.

But “the US military’s willingness to consider such risks reflects the growing worry about worsening conditions in Afghanistan,” the report added.

“Until recently, the military would not have considered a move to bolster tribal militias, but, with relatively few troops available, military leaders believe only a new approach to the war can stanch the spreading violence.” US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday he had urged Nato allies to temporarily increase force levels in Afghanistan next year to protect the 2009 presidential elections.

The elections, which are supposed to be held in late 2009, will be a key test of the viability of a struggling, seven-year-old US and Nato-led effort to build a democratically elected central government in Afghanistan.

US commanders in Afghanistan have asked for four more combat brigades and support troops as many as 20,000 more troops to counter the insurgency.—AFP