On a cold winter night in February 1989, the last Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan. The West basked in its victory, leaving Afghanistan in triumph and turning its attention to the collapse of the USSR. We forgot about the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, who made our victory possible.

Our indifference came back to haunt us on Sept. 11, 2001. Prompted by the worst terrorist atrocity in U.S. history, America returned to Afghanistan and swiftly routed al-Qaida's terrorist protectors, the Taliban. Again we reveled in victory and shifted our focus to Iraq, while the Taliban silently regrouped in western Pakistan.

These mistakes led us to today, when an American president faces the daunting decision of sending more soldiers to war. Pundits from all sides assail him with their opinions — more troops, fewer troops, escalation, withdrawal. But there is only one way to achieve victory, and it has been staring at us from behind a veil of oppression for 30 years. It is the liberation and education of the children of Central Asia, especially the girls, which will secure our victory and their futures.

First, America and its allies must demonstrate resolve. We should coordinate major increases in our military and economic commitments to Afghanistan in tandem with a media campaign declaring our determination. We should deploy the 40,000 troops, American or otherwise, requested by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. These troops should establish security for the civilian population and train a larger Afghan army and police force. They should be accompanied by more aid money and a "civilian surge" of advisers. More important than the actual number of troops is that this military and diplomatic buildup will provide evidence that we are wholly committed to victory.

Proving we are in this fight to the end will give us the clout to address the endemic corruption that has hampered efforts to improve the lives of Afghanistan's children. We have already begun to strengthen Afghanistan's anti-corruption cops and to pressure Afghan President Hamid Karzai to stop selling government jobs to his cronies. International donors should use more inspectors general to establish better oversight of sub-contracting. Money should be given to honest officials, and withheld from our warlord-cum-provincial governor allies. We can shift the allegiance of moderate insurgents if we can give their daughters the same opportunities as those of well-connected government ministers. This will allow us to focus on the Taliban and al-Qaida.

But everything started with Pakistan, so Pakistan must be part of the solution. Pakistan's government under Zia Ul-Haq radicalized Pakistani society. His obsession with fighting the Soviets in religious terms legitimized al-Qaida's violent jihadist rhetoric. Pakistan's obsession with battling India over Kashmir allowed its military to create the jihadist groups who have now joined the Taliban. The Pakistani government's failure to provide education for its children allowed the Saudis to build the radical madrassas in West Pakistan that gave rise to the Taliban movement.

To beat the Taliban, we must confront Pakistan's anti-Americanism. Fundamentally, the Pakistanis think we do not respect them or their grievances, like inadequate education. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton boosted America's image by challenging Pakistani students with the question, "Why don't the Pakistanis know where Bin Laden is?" They appreciated her forthrightness. Those students will also appreciate aid money addressing their real concerns, like the poor education in rural areas, especially of girls. To protect our interests, that aid should be contingent on Pakistan's military keeping pressure on the Taliban.

For a model of how to provide education to girls in Central Asia, we need look no further than Greg Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute. In his best-selling book, "Three Cups of Tea," Mortenson outlines his struggle to build schools for children, especially girls, in the face of the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He provides the materials. The communities provide free labor. The sense of ownership that this effort creates ensures the schools' protection. The Taliban have not shut down a single Mortenson school.

We must win in Afghanistan. President Obama was right to take the time to formulate the best possible plan. Now he must implement a strategy that shows the firmness of our resolve, but also shifts the focus from war to addressing the region's problems, especially in terms of education. We owe this to the children of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and President Obama owes this to the American people.

Samuel Wilder King II, a Republican, holds a bachelor's degree in Middle East Regional Studies from Georgetown University and served as a political consultant in Baghdad in 2008. Jason Kerwin, a Democrat, holds bachelor's and master's degrees in foreign policy from Stanford University. King and Kerwin, both Punahou School graduates, are co-directors of the Positive Impact Institute (www.positiveimpactinstitute.com), which is campaigning to raise awareness of the Central Asia Institute. They wrote this commentary for The Advertiser.