In Lisbon US led NATO alliance, charted a new course for Afghanistan and a new course for the new century by agreeing on anti missile defences for Nato,USA and its allies and at the same time fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and ‘'around the globe''
During the summit coalition leaders had heard a progress report on the war in Afghanistan from the US, top military commander General David Petraeus. Nato vision statement along with anticipitated approvals of a transition plan for Afghanistan-as a full ‘'embrace'' of President Obama's agenda.
This strategic concept adapted 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 alliances 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 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 from 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 fulfil 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 sceptical about the international community, their commitment 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, 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 has happened from1988- 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 honed 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 other s 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 and its Nation . 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 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 going on the same mentality as they are 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 official s 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 in to their country.
It was sad to see on ground the weak Afghan National Defence 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 affective enough. Thus it's clear that they require an urgent assistance of the Afghan professional and experience 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 other 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 be able to have a clean and disciplined national security forces who can take responsibilities from Isaf?
Kabul City is in 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 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 complains.
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 to other places, killing US, Nato and Afghan personal. Thus there has to be a way found of how to deal with this problem to bring security to those 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 Pakistan Prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visit to Kabul and meeting with president karzai.There has to be visible changes in the Pakistan foreign policy towards Afghanistan. As PM Gilani said''that Pakistan too is a victim of terrorism''(some time when someone create a monsters to eat others, would turn and eat those who created).
1---President Karzai has to work out with Pakistan over 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. Once there is 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 U.N, USA, Nato and regional representatives.
2---After that agreement take 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 honour 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 convenors 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 has carelessly kicked out a number of the hard working honest and committed people from 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 have 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 by interpreters and computer operators, and those who are coming with fake high education qualifications, instead he must go back to the old professional, experience, 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 economical 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 the in this region would 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 to yours 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 concern Afghans want to see strong security, economic, political and over all progressive developments in their country.
Abdul Khaliq Fazal; Afghanistan Minister of Public Works: 2001-2002. President of Evaluation and Privatisation commission of Public Enterprises:2002-2004. Advisor to President Karzai on Presidential Election: 2004.
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