..hang on a second. Seems here that some things are getting mixed up.

a.) Can you defeat "the insurgency." Yes. It's just a matter of time, resources, and political will. The argument "oh but the Soviets lost" is hokum, because they might have won, if they had been prepared to invade all the safe-havens, and the Mujahadeen were in pretty dire straights till they got US funding.

....NATO has neither of those problems. Pakistan is an ally, are they not.

b.) Is there a strategic goal worth the time, blood, money and effort? - Dunno.

Just my take.