AFGHANS IN TRANSITION

The U.S. and its NATO allies are planning to start leaving Afghanistan in 2014. Therefore, they would have to turn all the responsibility of the country’s security to the Afghan government. The strategy that the U.S. will follow in order to reach that goal is based on “fight, talk and build”.

A recent survey taken by a varied number of Afghans (from rural areas and urban areas, different ages, etc.), directed by The Asia Foundation, has provided some interesting answers. In this survey they identify the main problem to be right now insecurity, but they believe in the improvement of the Afghan Army and Afghan National Police. They also support their government’s efforts in trying to negotiate and talk with the Taliban and other armed opposition groups. The Afghan people are also aware of the development and reconstructions projects. They see progress in the quality of their lives, appreciate the services they receive from their government, and continue to support equal rights regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion. Furthermore a big percent support educational opportunities for women.

I think that the view of the Afghan people and their support is essential for the progress of the country. However, it is worrying that despite a lot of people are saying that the country is moving in the right direction, those saying the country is moving in the wrong direction have increased by 8 percent over the past year. We should hope that none of these advances will be lost in the current Afghan transition.

Source: The New York Times

Afghanistan Favors India and Denigrates Pakistan

The 4th of October 2011 the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan had a meeting in New Delhi, India. The President of Afghanistan signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership with India, which Pakistan sees as its principal adversary. This agreement paves the way for India to train and equip Afghan security forces to fill the gaps as NATO troops leave in the years ahead. Pakistan and India, nuclear-armed neighbors, have long suspected each other’s motives in Afghanistan.
However, it is interesting that this agreement takes place in this specific moment, when the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is especially hostile. The neighbor of both countries is suspected of helping the Taliban in their territories and not cooperating with the Afghan government in their capture. The recent assassination of the head of the Afghan High Peace Council, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, has led to increased hostility between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as there is suspicion that Pakistan’s spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence is behind the killing. Such accusations have been denied by Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry in a statement doubts of the veracity on “the so-called evidence” tying Pakistan’s spy agency to Mr. Rabbani’s killing. “Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani was a great friend of Pakistan and widely respected in this country,” the statement said.


Pakistan is not in a very good situation, being surrounded by “enemies”. Pakistan has been host for many Talibans, which have been in their territory protected. Although the statements say one thing, the facts show otherwise. There is evidence and suspicions that many attacks carried out by Taliban in Afghanistan, were backed by the Pakistani secret service. To improve relations with neighboring countries, especially Afghanistan, Pakistan should have a clearer policy in order to proof any doubt that may appear. Pakistan would have to demonstrate that they are not supporting radical movements and that would lead to a better understanding between the two countries. With the complicated crossroads that they have in that part of the world, governments must be clear in their position in order to end together with terrorism and to achieve standardization in Afghanistan. Neighboring countries should help and stop supporting or hosting radical groups.


Source: The New York Times