NATO Afghanistan Relations New Twist

[ejaz007]

NATO leader turns tables on Afghan govt

* De Hoop Scheffer denounces ‘ineffective’ Afghan government
* Kabul says foreign allies also to blame for dire situation

WASHINGTON/KABUL: NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Sunday denounced Afghanistan’s ‘ineffective’ government and said the authorities there were as much to blame for the country’s plight as the Taliban.

The comments by the NATO secretary general, in an opinion piece for The Washington Post newspaper, was an unusually strong expression of the alliance’s dissatisfaction with the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

De Hoop Scheffer did not mention Karzai by name, but his remarks came at a politically-sensitive time for the Afghan leader.

Karzai is due for re-election this year, and observers believe an open rift with NATO could substantially weaken him ahead of the yet-to-be-scheduled polls.

Analysing the situation in the country seven years after the toppling of the Taliban regime, de Hoop Scheffer argued that Afghanistan and their Western allies “are not where we might have hoped them to be by now”.

While the country’s North and West were largely at peace, the South and East were “driven by insurgency, drugs and ineffective government”, he wrote.

The NATO leader went on to insist that “the basic problem in Afghanistan is not too much Taliban, it’s too little good governance”. “Afghans need a government that deserves their loyalty and trust; when they have it, the oxygen will be sucked away from the insurgency,” he added.

De Hoop Scheffer said the international community must still step up its support for Afghanistan.

“But we have paid enough, in blood and treasure, to demand that the Afghan government take more concrete and vigorous action to root out corruption and increase efficiency, even where that means making difficult political choices.”

Afghanistan allies: Meanwhile, the Afghan government said its foreign allies must share the responsibility with them for the country’s dire situation, hitting back at NATO charges that it was almost as much to blame as the insurgents.

“Afghanistan and the international community are equally responsible, both for the gains and problems of the past seven years,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Baheen told AFP in response to de Hoop Scheffer’s article.

“As long as these bases are not taken out, a victory is difficult,” he said, referring to the calls by Karzai for the US-led ‘war on terror’ to focus on Taliban-safe havens outside of Afghanistan.

Baheen said the Afghan government was committed to establishing a rule of law.

However, its efforts were being undermined as “the international community, including some powerful NATO-member countries, have their own favourite warlords”, who they back against Karzai’s government, he charged.

Corruption existed not only in the Afghan administration but also among international groups helping with the reconstruction since the Taliban’s ouster, said Baheen.

“Afghanistan’s government is committed to fighting corruption, but this is a long struggle and takes time,” he added, citing the trial of more than 700 officials allegedly involved in graft. afp

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[ajpirzada]

does this mean no more karzai after afghan elections?????

 

[fatman17]

NATO to deepen cooperation with Pakistan: NATO Secy General

ISLAMABAD, Jan 22 (APP): NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Thursday said NATO is working to deepening its cooperation with the democratic elected government in Pakistan, adding Pakistan and NATO share a common strategic objective. Addressing a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at Foreign Office, the NATO Secretary General said his organization respects the sovereignty of Pakistan.

Jaap de Hoop stressed for setting up border coordination centres along the Pak-Afghan border.

He said NATO recognized the role played by Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps in fighting extremism and militancy in FATA and NWFP.

He said Pakistani security forces have paid a heavy price in protecting the border and defending the supply lines for NATO forces in Afghanistan, adding that “we are grateful to Pakistan for this.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his meeting with NATO Secretary General was very productive in which they discussed a host of issues including Afghanistan and tension between Pakistan and India after Mumbai attacks.

He said NATO has over 50,000 troops in Afghanistan and the new American administration had also decided to send more 30,000 troops to Afghanistan as a military surge to defeat terrorism.

He said military was not the only solution to the problem of extremism, and stressed the need for economic, infrastructure development and political engagement in this regard.

Qureshi said they also discussed institutionalizing of interaction at political and strategic levels.

Foreign Minister said he briefed the NATO Secretary General of the steps taken by Pakistan for de-escalation of tensions in the wake of Mumbai attacks.

He said he also conveyed Pakistan’s concern over Gaza situation and the killing of civilians including women and children over there.

He said NATO is looking at Pakistan not exclusively with a view to NATO operations in Afghanistan, but it was important to develop these relationship through high-level exchange of visits to Islamabad and Brussels.

He said terrorism and extremism is a threat to the stability of the region and said Pakistan must be part of the solution with NATO to tackle these effectively.

He recognised that Pakistan has paid heavy price in fighting extremism and militancy in FATA and NWFP.

He expressed satisfaction that relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan had improved significantly recently.

To a question, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said de-escalation of tension at eastern border would help Pakistan to concentrate more on western border.

He said the statements from new US administration were encouraging, and termed the visit of US Vice President to Pakistan before swearing-in a positive development.