Afghanistan confronts important challenges to its security and its efforts to build a government based on democratic principles, respect for human rights, and a market economy. To address these challenges, Afghanistan proposed that the U.S. join in a strategic partnership and establish close cooperation, including regular, high-level exchanges on the political, security, and economic issues contained herein and other issues of mutual interest. The U.S. and Afghanistan plan to work together to develop appropriate arrangements and agreements to implement their strategic partnership.
This shared effort will be based on a number of key principles, including a dedication to the rule of law, protection of the human rights and civil liberties of all individuals regardless of ethnic affiliations or gender, support for democratic governance, and reliance on the free market as the best means to further Afghanistan's economic progress. The strategic partnership's primary goal will be to strengthen U.S.-Afghan ties to help ensure Afghanistan's long-term security, democracy, and prosperity. It should contribute to peaceful and productive relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors. It is not directed against any third country.
This partnership will serve as the basis for our common efforts to cooperate in the war against international terror and the struggle against violent extremism, to promote stability and prosperity in the region, and to remain steadfast in supporting Afghanistan's campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation, provide alternate livelihoods assistance, and fight the production and trafficking of drugs. The partnership will be anchored in the constitutions of our two countries, and will be guided by the U.S. and Afghanistan's respective obligations under the United Nations Charter and other international agreements and conventions.
Decades of civil war, political violence, and interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs make Afghanistan's security, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity particularly crucial areas for U.S. - Afghan cooperation. To enhance Afghanistan's long-term democracy, prosperity, and security, the U.S. and Afghanistan intend to work closely together.
Meanwhile, with help from the U.S. and the United Nations, Afghanistan adopted its new constitution, establishing the country as an Islamic Republic, in early January 2004. Afghanistan's presidential elections were held on October 9, 2004 in which over 8 million people voted. Hamid Karzai won the elections with 55.4% of the votes.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan was created in accordance with the Bonn Conference, in December 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime. Afghan opposition leaders attending the conference began the process of reconstructing their country, by setting up a new government structure, namely the Afghan Transitional Authority. NATO took over command and coordination of ISAF in August 2003. This was the first mission outside the Euro-Atlantic area in NATO’s history. Initially restricted to providing security in and around Kabul, NATO's mission now covers about 50% of the country's territory. The Alliance is currently in the process of further expanding its presence and role. Earlier, the ISAF numbered about 9,700 troops from 37 NATO and non-NATO troop contributing countries. The strategic command and control is exercised by NATO’s headquarters in Belgium.
The ISAF’s role is to assist the Government in Afghanistan and the international community in maintaining security within the force’s area of operations. ISAF supports the Afghan Government in expanding its authority to the rest of the country, and in providing a safe and secure environment conducive to free and fair elections, the spread of the rule of law, and the reconstruction of the country. It is widely believed that NATO is in Afghanistan for the long term, for as long as the Government of Afghanistan requires its assistance. NATO is committed to Afghanistan and its future. Earlier, in 2005, NATO Foreign Ministers had endorsed a plan to assist the Afghan Government to extend and exercise its authority and influence across the country. The Plan addresses the tasks and challenges ISAF will face as it continues to expand its area of operations to the south and subsequently to the east of the country. It provides the strategic focus to create the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction across the country. It recognizes the primacy of the Afghan Government and the paramount importance of continued, coherent and consistent development of Afghan political institutions and security capability. In addition, it outlines clear arrangements for enhanced coordination and cooperation between ISAF’s stabilization mission and the Coalition counter-terrorism mission. It also highlights the need for ISAF to cooperate effectively with the other key international community agencies in Afghanistan, notably the UN, the EU, the G8 lead nations and the NGO community. Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) will continue to be at the leading edge of NATO’s effort in Afghanistan. As such, ISAF stability operations will be used to create an environment required to enable reconstruction and nation building activities to continue. The ISAF's key military tasks include:
• Assisting the Afghan government in extending its authority across the country;
• Conducting stability and security operations in co-ordination with the Afghan national security forces;
• Supporting the Afghan government program to disarm illegally armed groups.
The ISAF is now expanding its area of operations to include six additional provinces: Day Kundi, Helmand , Kandahar , Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul ; four Regional Commands will be established at: Mazar-e Sharif, Herat and Kandahar for ISAF Regions North, West and South respectively and one for the capital, Kabul. The ISAF will be increased by up to 6,000 personnel potentially bringing the total number to approximately 15,000. Currently 26 Allies and 10 non-NATO countries contribute some 9,000 personnel to the operation. The ISAF and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the ongoing US-led military operation in Afghanistan, will continue to have separate mandates and missions. ISAF will focus on its stabilization and security mission whilst OEF will continue to carry out its Counter-terrorism mission.
Earlier, in June, Defence Ministers from 37 NATO and non-NATO countries reconfirmed plans to significantly increase the number of NATO-led peacekeepers in Afghanistan this summer and to move into the south of the country. This was the first ever meeting of NATO Defence Ministers and Defence Ministers from countries that contribute to NATO’s Afghanistan mission. It underlined the importance that NATO and its partner countries attach to the operation. Earlier, the Alliance had some 9,000 troops providing security assistance in Kabul, the North and West of the country. By summer 2006 this figures was set to rise to about 16,000, and will also see the Alliance taking on additional tasks such as mentoring Afghan army units. Later, it was claimed that General Richards would ultimately command some 17,000 ISAF forces in Afghanistan will be working with the Government Afghanistan and the international community to implement a comprehensive and all embracing development plan for the future of the country. As ISAF expands its operation into the south of the country in the summer General Richards said he will not hesitate to use appropriate measures against those disruptive elements opposed to democracy and the rule of law in Afghanistan, including military force if necessary. The fact of the matter is that much more needs to be done to stabilize Afghanistan. Peace in Afghanistan depends upon security and stability which itself depends upon good governance and assistance from abroad. The USA has all but ignored Afghanistan at the cost of its ill-fated global war on terror in Iraq. Unless and until NATO concentrates on tackling the governance issues in Afghanistan, peace cannot come about. Wishful thinking and rhetoric will not solve the mess in Afghanistan. Only concentrated action and determination of NATO and Pakistan can resolve the security issues. We can only hope that peace comes to the country soon.
Pakistan’s perceptions on the Situation in Afghanistan
Pakistan, who supported the Taliban regime militarily and financially, made a drastic policy change and cooperated with the U.S. in going after Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. Despite this, Pakistan, led by General Musharaf, still tried to influence the future stability of the Afghan government by attempting to secretly sabotage the talks in Bonn by bringing up ethnic issues. Many observers and analysts believe that the Pakistani government wanted to use the Taliban to restore the so-called "sanctity of the Durand Line", which separates Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Durand line is an unofficial porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In 1893, the British and the Afghan Amir (Abdur Rahman Khan) agreed to set up the Durand line (named after the foreign Secretary of the Indian government, Sir Mortimer Durand) to divide Afghanistan and what was then British India. Many experts believe that the Afghan Amir regarded the Durand Line as only a separation of areas of political responsibility, not permanent international borders. The agreement was only for 100 years and it expired in 1993. Moreover as early as 1949, Afghanistan's Loya Jirga declared the Durand Line invalid.
Qazi claims that Pakistan’s objective was to rule Afghanistan by proxy, hence giving them a strategic depth against their South Asian rival India.
Only a political process could bring lasting peace to Afghanistan. Those among the Taliban who are willing to be included in the mainstream should be given the chance to surrender their arms and join the political process. The military action should only be taken against those who refuse to accept a peaceful solution to the Afghan crisis.
Some have suggested that Pakistan should do more to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists operating in Afghanistan and along the Pak-Afghan border.
We believe that it was not only Pakistan’s duty to do so. Pakistan was doing whatever it could and had sustained more casualties in the fight against terrorists than both Afghan and international forces put together. This, it showed Pakistan’s commitment to the fight.
But fighting terrorism was not only Pakistan’s responsibility and international and Afghan forces should also expedite their efforts to overcome this menace.
The struggle to uproot extremism was described as a battle for hearts and minds and it was acknowledged that it would take time to achieve this objective. The emergence of extremism in South Asia was linked to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan when groups from around the world were brought to the region to fight the Soviet forces. Better coordination among the forces combating extremists and better and quick intelligence sharing were needed to tackle this problem, the audience was told.
Pakistan was already taking difficult steps to combat terrorism and for the first time in recent history we have sent regular troops to the tribal area. Pakistan was taking these steps because it believed that having peace in Afghanistan was in its own interest. Peace in Afghanistan could also pave the way for the return of Afghan refugees.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, has said that being partners in the war against terrorism, Pakistan and Afghanistan should avoid making accusations against each other.
“Instead of accusing each other and raising baseless allegations, both Pakistan and Afghanistan should join hands against their common enemy of terrorism and extremism. Let’s avoid the blame game,” he said, while addressing a dinner reception for a media delegation from Afghanistan, at Parliament House.
He said that Pakistan would continue its support for peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan to maintain regional stability. He added that Pakistan wanted to strengthen economic and trade ties with Afghanistan. “The destinies of the two countries are intertwined.”
He said Pakistan wanted a strong, stable, progressive and prosperous Afghanistan because it was in the interests of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. He also welcomed Afghanistan’s membership to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
He said Pakistan had provided consistent support to Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts to achieve peace, stability and prosperity. “The two countries have a deep rooted relationship based on shared history, culture, common faith and economic interdependence.”
Mushahid said that Pakistan had been playing a stabilizing role in a region facing many challenges. “Pakistan has been trying to promote mutually beneficial economic relations across the region to create inter-dependencies.”
He said Pakistan was located at the confluence of three important regions of the world – South Asia, Central Asia and China – and provided the shortest access to the sea for all landlocked countries of Central Asia including Afghanistan. He said that Pakistan’s geo-strategic location had revitalized the country’s role in the promotion of multi-sector and inter-regional cooperation, which was the basis for peace and prosperity in the region.
He said Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghan refugees during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, of which two million were still living in Pakistan. “Pakistan has maintained friendly relations with the Karzai government in Afghanistan, and provided diplomatic, political and financial support to it.”
He said that trade between the two countries has been increasing and it was now more than $1.2 billion and over 60,000 Pakistanis were working in Afghanistan. He regretted that some elements were trying to create tension and misunderstandings between the two countries. He said these forces wanted to destabilize Afghanistan and oftentimes used the media to create misunderstandings between the two countries. He urged the media to play a proactive role in promoting harmony and understanding between the two governments.
He said that gas pipeline networks between Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and other countries of the region would provide a chance to further promote friendly relations.
« return.