We must be imaginative with MRAPs and other armor.Instead of using them to guard the posts endlessly, use them in offensive role to deploy commandos right on top of the terries.I don't mind the armor taking a beating if it keeps our boys safe and crushes the enemy literally.
All the shit storm on our western front is due to our refusal to think and move beyond our borders to safeguard our interests and pursue a ruthless Afghan policy.The ultimate culmination of this would be Pakistan and Afghanistan becoming some sort of a confederation with free passage both ways for people and trade, and Afghanistan becoming our strong hand not a lousy neighbour, but of course for that , a lot of boxes need to be checked.
MRAP is not armor, per se. It is a specialized troop carrier. I am all for using armor. But I am not sure if we can use it in mountainous terrain. I think experts should weigh in here.
Our obsession with security made us support Afghan Taliban instead of supporting a constitutional government in Afghanistan. Even a bad constitutional government is better than one devoid of institutions.
The crux of the problem is that Afghanistan never evolved politically. From kingship in 1973, it tottered over to Communist rule in 1977, & after 44 year civil war, it has gotten a government that has no recognizable institutions, or guided by any constitution. Even during Taliban 1.0, whims of Mullah Umer were policy. Its not going to be different now.
For your vision to bear fruit a number of things need to happen:
1. Afghans need to realize the importance of constitution democracy. Taliban's brand of Islam has no place for a constitution or democracy, or any recognizable institution apart from an advisory council. Two countries with incompatible systems can not form a confederation or any other thing along these lines. Do note that Taliban envision a situation where they occupy half of Pakistan as their own territory in name of Afghan nationalism. They also would wish to rip out all our institutions and install an emirate. So it is a matter of competing ideologies that would not coexist in one country.
2. Economic disparity would mean a flood of Afghan population into & around major population centers. In any future disagreement leading to conflict, it would effectively be check-mate for Pakistan. See #1 & extrapolate for yourself.
3. Pakistan is without the financial resources that would be required to invest into present day Afghanistan to bring it even at 70% of Pakistan. You can not have a country with great disparities. See #2 above too.
4. Pakistan struggles with managing multiple ethnicities & we'll add Uzbek, Tajik, & others without having resolved Baloch grievances. Not a good look at all.
5. We'd need to add or integrate Persian / Dari into our educational system. Persian speakers would take on superior airs in no time & we'd be wondering what to do with them?
6. Pashtun backlash will develop over time. Currently Pashtuns are the dominant ethnicity of Afghanistan. In Pakistan they would be a minority. This would not sit well with them. Over time this will develop into a litany of grievances & ultimately anti-Pakistan sentiment. Put this together with #1 & #2 and you can see where this would ultimately lead.
7. Afghans profit from smuggling. That would dry up in a single country. Moreover taxes & duties' structure that Pakistan has would not sit well. This would mean another fracture line that would not go away easily.
A confederation of Afghanistan & Pakistan is a pipe dream that I used to have too. This still might be possible, but perhaps not in my lifetime because it would require at least 2 generations worth of work. We just need to develop long term policy to deal with Afghanistan as it exists. Nothing will change in Afghanistan without a war & therefore we'll be stuck with a proud but poor neighbor for foreseeable future. If we try to educate their youth, the young people will question the power-structure & we'll be blamed for interference. Its too complicated & we can only slowly influence Afghans.