Lisbon Summit, Obama & Gilani visits to
Kabul, and President Karzai's Future Tasks
Abdul Khaliq Fazal
December 7, 2010
In Lisbon, the US led NATO alliance charted a new course for Afghanistan and a
new course for the new century by agreeing on anti missile defenses for NATO, USA
and its allies, and at the same time fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and
"around the globe".
During the summit, coalition leaders heard a progress report on the war in
Afghanistan from the US top military commander, General David Petraeus. amd NATO's
vision statement along with anticipitated approvals of a transition plan for
Afghanistan-as a full "embrace" of President Obama’s agenda.
This strategic concept adopted at the two day NATO summit in Lisbon, agreed
by President Karzai, President Obama, and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh
Rasmussen – constituted a formal commitment to stretch the Alliance's once limited
purview to distant wars, such as the Afghanistan conflict, if they are judged
necessary to prevent terrorist attacks from reaching the 28 NATO members in
Europe and North America.
Afghanistan was the most pressing topic discussed at the summit as the
leaders gathered. In many ways it was policy catching up with facts on the
ground. NATO has been involved in Afghanistan for eight years, and finally NATO
Secretary General-Anders Rasmussen announced that the Alliance would begin
turning over control of some of the provinces to the Afghan security forces and
some civilian officials from 2011 and would finish this step by step process by
2014. However, it was also made very clear that the international forces would
remain indefinitely as back-up in what is being portrayed as NATO-Afghan
partnership.
The aim of the Lisbon Conference on Afghanistan was clear that the US and its
NATO alliance would turn the country's security to the Afghan security forces and
the civilian government.
NOW THE QUESTIONS ARE:
1---What was discussed on the role of Pakistan to be played in implementing
these strategies? It is not clear.
2--- Is it possible to implement the Lisbon Agreement on Afghanistan without
the full and honest cooperation of Pakistan? NO
3---Is it possible for Pakistan government to bring peace and security in to
their country without the full support and cooperation of the Afghan
government? NO
4--- What steps would President Karzai have to take to create a clean and
clear ground for the Afghan security forces and civilian government to be able
and capable of taking the security and governance of the country from the US and
NATO forces?
5---Would the US, NATO and the international community fulfill on their
promises made in Lisbon?
These are some of the questions that everyone, especially Afghans should be
asking. The Afghans must be aware of the outcome in regards to the Lisbon
Conference concerning Afghanistan; this conference was different from others.
Lisbon conference was decisive and was a final step that Afghanistan, US and
NATO countries have taken in relation to the future of Afghanistan. However the
Afghan people are skeptical about the international community, their commitment
to its role, performance and promises, and they are questioning that.
A--Will the US and NATO assist the Afghan government with everything that is
required for the progress and development to rebuilt Afghanistan, that ranges
from building up the national military, police forces, reconstruction and other
economic related issues?
B-- Or would they leave that country alone again to do everything by itself,
like what happened from1988 to 1992 to 2001 after the Soviet withdrawal from
there? We would have to wait and see.
However what has been decided in Lisbon on the 19th-20th November 2010 would
also be depending on the role and performance of Afghans. The Afghan government
should be able and capable of using this golden opportunity for their best
national interests. They must be ready to create the right conditions and
environment that the international community would feel committable that the
assistance they are providing is going to the right place and is affective.
Again it requires a strong, honest and committed Afghan government and excellent
politics and diplomacy.
Afghanistan is a sovereign country, there is no doubted about that. However,
it is up to the current Afghan leadership, not only President Karzai ,but to his
Vice Presidents and others who are sharing power with him in the government to
use this valuable and golden time and opportunity for the best national
interests of Afghanistan. They should also keep in mind that the
interests of the international community should be kept second in line to the
Afghan national interest, and its sovereignty.
President Karzai and his Afghan partners who are sharing the government with him
have to think very carefully, and they should come up with drastic changes in the
government to be able to take the transfer of securities from US and NATO force
to the vague Afghan security forces.
The Afghan Government should not be hiding or denying the facts that the
Afghan national security forces are not able and capable in bringing peace and
securities to the Afghan nation from year 2011 to 2014 if they keep the
same mentality they have now.
I was in Kabul from the middle of October to the middle of November this
year; this was my second trip to my country in 2010. I met many politicians,
intellectuals, tribal leaders, religious scholars, and government officials, including foreign diplomats. I have made my assessments of the situation and
found that there were not even ten percent of the Afghan people whom were happy
with what the government and the international community was doing for bringing
peace and security to their country.
It was sad to see on the ground, the weak Afghan National Defense and Police
Forces, which were unable to bring law and order in the capital Kabul alone. The
traffic officer on the intersections were standing smoking cigarettes and were
not even giving attention to the heavy traffic, cars, and people walking from
everywhere. There was no one to keep control of the traffic officers to do their
job promptly. This was also the situation with police and military personal.
The national military and police forces discipline and normal principles were
not near what Afghanistan had during his majesty King Mohammad Zahir Shah’s
government, despite all the new training and methods that has been provided to
them by the modern western trainers. It seems like this kind of training is not
effective enough. Thus it’s clear that they require an urgent assistance from Afghan professionals and experienced police and military officers.
In Kabul, I saw in the back of one police car two big fighting dogs and again
in the back of other police car lots of wood which would be transported from one
destination to another by the drivers with the siren on.
I saw the military cars were being driven by young 14 or 15 years old
children who could not drive. It has been widely reported that in some provinces, uniform police and military personal have been involved in using hashish or some
kind of other drugs. In some cases they are involved in drugs, trafficking,
smugglings, robberies, killings and even turning to join the Taliban, taking all
government assets with them. Similar reports and events have been reported by
people from all over the country.
These are all serious issues which have to be taken into consideration by
their respected ministers, and those in charge of the security departments. Now
the question is, can the current government overcome these problems and would
they be
able to have a clean and disciplined national security forces who can take
responsibilities from ISAF?
Kabul City is a mess and it needs strong attention to bring everything to
order. Only the Kabul mayor cannot do everything by himself, even though he is
trying everything he can, but the work is too much for him.
President Karzai's outcry on foreign forces making their raids on Afghan homes
was right; these were the concerns of the Afghan people. Each time the President
met the elders and tribal leaders of each provinces they were making these
complaints.
Minimizing civilian casualties is another concern of President Karzai which
has to be taken into serious consideration by the international community.
However, the point is that an alternative way has to be found by both the Afghan
security forces and the US and NATO forces to overcome these problems. There is
no doubt that the anti government armed forces are moving and hiding through
night time going from one place to another, killing US, NATO and Afghan personnel.
Thus there has to be a way to deal with this problem and to bring
security to these areas and keep these armed resistances under control and save
the lives of these troops.
I have discussed these issues in the past with President Karzai, and I have
suggested to him that he has to make lots of firm changes to his administration.
WHAT PRESIDENT KARZAI HAS TO DO NOW?
Despite Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to Kabul and meeting
with President Karzai, there has to be visible changes in the Pakistani foreign
policy towards Afghanistan. As PM Gilani said, "Pakistan too is a victim of
terrorism" (some time when someone create a monster to eat others, it would turn
and eat those who created it).
1---President Karzai has to work out with Pakistan the issues that are
their concerns in relation to Afghanistan and what Pakistan wants from
Afghanistan so they can stop their interference in the internal and external
affairs of Afghanistan. At the same time, Afghanistan must very clearly tell
Pakistan what they want from them. There must be a solid agreement on paper
between the two countries, and then all these compromises should take place and
be witnessed in the presence of the United Nations, USA, NATO and regional representatives.
2---After that agreement takes place, then President Karzai should start
discussions with the Taliban leadership through the Peace Council and within
that council through the people who are acceptable to the Taliban to sit for
discussions - not those people whom the Taliban consider as their old enemies.
3---The Afghan government must welcome the Taliban to their homes with
respect and honor and provide financial, security and moral support to them,
while they are settling at their provinces. The government must also find jobs
for those who need jobs so they would not be recruited by other armed groups to
take arms against the government or foreign forces in Afghanistan.
4---President Karzai has to convince the UN Security Council and US
government to review the black list and remove the names of those Taliban and
Hizbi -Islami leadership who are not members of Al Qaida group and those who
accept the Afghan constitution.
5--- President Karzai has to make changes to his inner circle team whom are
his advisors, cabinet members, provincial governors, police, and intelligent
chiefs, and military commanders including other high ranking government
officials. Instead he has to appoint those people who are professional
politicians, intellectuals, skilled people whom are not corrupted and those who
have good political back ground and support within the Afghan society.
I was one of the conveners of the 2001-2002 Interim Administration in the
historical BONN conference in December 2001 representing the Rome group. Over
there we had appointed very strong and committed politicians for the posts of
cabinets, and those people had very strong support within the Afghan community.
After the Interim administration term finished in June 2002, President Karzai
carelessly kicked out a number of the hard working honest and committed
people from the cabinet and other government posts. A number of these people had
worked hard and made sacrifices to bring peace and harmony to Afghanistan and
bring him to become the president in 2002 and 2004. Since then he has appointed
a number of people whom had no political, economical and community experience
and were not known to the Afghan community (I do not want to mention the names
now).
It has been reported widely, nationally and internationally that a number of
those people are now having corruption cases with the Afghanistan Attorney
General Department.
6---President Karzai must stop running the Afghan government via interpreters
and computer operators, and those who are coming with fake higher education
qualifications, instead he must go back to the old professional, experienced,
committed politicians and technocrats, who are not corrupt. After all, this
country belong to all Afghans and they are responsible for bringing peace,
security, prosperity, construction and economic development to their country.
7---The president must appoint an independent auditor for transparency and
accountability of all the top government officials, government departments,
contractors and NGO’s.
8---The president should appoint a joint committee of professional,
experienced old and new military and police experts from both ministries and
other experienced officers to prepare the solid ground for the transfer of
securities from NATO and US forces to the Afghan securities forces.
All Afghans must acknowledge the fact that the problems in this country and
in this region will not be solved with conflicts, fighting, killings, gaining
power, taking money for personal gain, or being in the service of others. The
only way out of the current problem is through negotiation, understanding,
respect for oneself, and other national and political interests.
I hope to see President Karzai act up on these recommendations. After all, most Afghans want to assist their government from being going down the route
that would lead this country into a banana republic. All concerned Afghans want to
see a strong secure, economic, political and over all progressive development
occur
in their country.
Abdul Khaliq Fazal was the former Minister of Public Works from 2001-2002,
President of the Evaluation and Privatization Commission of Public Enterprises
from 2002-2004, and an advisor to President Karzai in the 2004 Presidential
Elections. He can be reached at
a_k_fazal@yahoo.com.au
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