14 April 2005

Karzai, Rumsfeld Discuss U.S.-Afghan Strategic Ties, April 13, 2005

(Secretary of defense assesses security situations in Iraq, Afghanistan)

Reports of progress in bringing stability to Iraq and Afghanistan met Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld as he visited those countries to meet with their leaders and U.S. forces for an assessment of the security situations there.

Rumsfeld traveled to Qalat and Kandahar, Afghanistan, April 13 where he was told by U.S. military commanders that security in the southeastern region is improving.  U.S. forces are training Afghan troops and working with them there to support reconstruction efforts and civil affairs projects in an area near the Pakistan border where there are still clashes with remnants of the former Taliban regime. Narcotics trafficking also remains a major problem.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai used Rumsfeld's April 13 visit to press for a formal, long-term security partnership with the United States.

"Today's Afghanistan is a country with representation all over the world, with a growing economy, with reconstruction because we have assistance from the rest of the world.  Primarily in the forefront of that assistance is the United States in the economic area in reconstruction and in security services including the training of the Afghan army and police and the strengthening of the Afghan administration," Karzai said.

"Based on that experience, as a result of my conversations with the Afghan people in the past three years including conversations with groups of Afghans from provinces yesterday, the conclusion we have drawn is that the Afghan people want a longer-term relationship with the United States.  They want this relationship to be a wholesome one, including [a] sustained economic relationship, a political relationship, and most important of all, a strategic security relationship that would enable Afghanistan to defend itself, to continue to prosper, to stop interferences, the possibility of interferences in Afghanistan."

Rumsfeld said that in security partnerships, the United States usually looks for "ways we can be helpful -- maybe training, equipment or other types of assistance.  We think in terms of what we are doing, rather than the question of military bases and that type of thing."

While in Iraq, Rumsfeld met April 12 with interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq's next prime minister, and new President Jalal Talabani.  He cautioned them against delays in the process of writing a constitution and holding elections.

"My view," Rumsfeld said, "is that the Iraqi people will want the opportunity to participate in voting on their own constitution, and that the sooner that happens under the timetable that's been set by the Iraqis, the better for the Iraqi people."

He also told them that in order for the political process and economic development to move forward, the security environment must be stable.  He urged them to strengthen their ministries by not politicizing them, and by being attentive to the qualifications of those given leadership positions, particularly in the military.

"It seems to me," Rumsfeld told reporters, "that we have an opportunity to continue to make progress politically and economically and the Iraqi security forces are making progress, to be sure.  Anything that would delay that or disrupt that as a result of turbulence or lack of confidence or corruption in government would be unfortunate."

During a later press conference with Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani April 13, Rumsfeld further explained his concern.  "It's not so much a matter of continuity [of senior leadership of the Iraqi security forces] as a matter of competence, of capability," he said.  "It's a matter of not causing undue turbulence in the Iraqi security forces and not setting back the important progress that's been achieved."

The secretary said that the goal of coalition forces is to transfer full responsibility for the security of Iraq over to Iraqi security forces.

Following are excerpts of the Rumsfeld and Karzai press conference:
(begin excerpt)

U.S. Department of Defense
News transcript
April 13, 2005

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and President Hamid Karzai

Secretary Rumsfeld and President Karzai Hold Press Conference in Afghanistan

RUMSFELD: I am always pleased to be back in your country. I'm told it's actually the ninth visit, but who counts? It's my first visit since you were sworn in and I had the honor of attending the inauguration. We had a good meeting today with the President and his Cabinet, senior members of his Cabinet. Earlier today we spent some time in Kandahar and Palat and visited a Provincial Reconstruction Team there and saw the work that's being done. Also had an opportunity to be impressed again with the economic progress that's occurring here in Afghanistan.

I talked with our senior military officials about the progress being made in the development and capacity and capabilities of the Afghan security forces. I'm always pleased to learn that wherever the Afghan National Army seems to go they are well respected and performing well. That, of course, is important.

The people of the United States are certainly proud to stand by the free citizens of Afghanistan. And Mr. President, we thank you for your courage, for your leadership, and certainly look forward to strengthening our partnership in the months and years ahead.

KARZAI: Questions?

PRESS: Mr. President and Mr. Secretary  --

... PRESS: Charlie Aldinger with Reuters. There's a report out today that your country's been discussing a possible bilateral security agreement. Number one, is that true? And would such an agreement or understanding or treaty or whatever, would that mean a permanent U.S. military troop presence in Afghanistan? Thank you.

... KARZAI:  ... As I mentioned in my opening remarks, I hope you had some interpretation. Afghanistan has gone through a very, very difficult period of its 30 years of life in the past two and a half, three decades. We have learned our lessons from those years of extreme difficulty and interference and economic deprivation as a consequence.

Today's Afghanistan is a country with representation all over the world, with a growing economy, with reconstruction because we have assistance from the rest of the world. Primarily in the forefront of that assistance is the United States in the economic area in reconstruction and in security services including the training of the Afghan army and police and the strengthening of the Afghan administration.

Based on that experience, as a result of my conversations with the Afghan people in the past three years including conversations with groups of Afghans from provinces yesterday. The conclusion we have drawn is that the Afghan people want a longer term relationship with the United States. They want this relationship to be a wholesome one including sustained economic relationship, a [inaudible] relationship, and most important of all, a strategic security relationship that would enable Afghanistan to defend itself, to continue to prosper, to stop interferences, the possibility of interferences in Afghanistan, not have the reputation of that.

This initiative has come from Afghanistan and I had it in my manifesto before the elections and I told the Afghan people that this is what I'm going to ask as you have been concerned, and that is what we are following up to the [inaudible]. I've already raised it with President Bush in Washington on my previous trips, and Afghanistan is requesting, seeking such a partnership, yes.

RUMSFELD: I'll just be very brief. We've had of course a very good military to military relationship between our two countries for the past year, a partnership that has grown and strengthened. I think with respect to your question about permanent military, I think that I would say that what we generally do when we work with another country is what we have been doing. We find ways that we can be helpful. It may be training, it may be equipping, it may be various other types of assistance such as is the case here. But we think more in terms of what we're doing rather than the question of military bases and that type of thing.

I would add in closing on this subject that this, of course, is a subject that is presidential in its level and interest and the relationship between our countries is something that is discussed generally between the President and the Department of State and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

... RUMSFELD: The coalition countries obviously share President Karzai and the Afghan government's concern about narcotics trafficking. It's a danger across the globe and a problem that all countries need to cooperate on. Certainly the coalition countries and particularly with the leadership of the United Kingdom, are in support of President Karzai and the Afghan government's counter-narcotics efforts.

PRESS: Mr. President, General [John] Abizaid, [commander of U.S. Central Command,] said recently to some reporters that he thought it would be wonderful when the time comes for the Afghans to send at least a symbolic unit of its new, well trained Afghan National Army to Iraq as a symbol from one liberated country to another. Has this ever really been discussed? And if so, when do you think such an action could be taken?

KARZAI: Afghanistan will be very happy to help our brothers and sisters in Iraq in whatever way we can. We are a poor country with very limited resources ourselves, but we're glad that now we are slowly getting increasing capabilities in all walks of life, including an Army that's now more than 20,000 in trained and which is being trained by the United States.

Afghanistan is also a friend of the United States and is in gratitude to the United States for the help that the United States has given to our people in an extremely significant manner that has really brought back Afghanistan to own itself. It has brought back the Afghan people to the ownership of their country. It has brought back the sovereignty of Afghanistan back to its people. That [inaudible] is something very deep and we will be also very happy if asked to help in Iraq and to show our friendship with the United States and our brotherly feelings for the Iraqi people. But no such request has come yet to us.

... KARZAI: ... The question is, will the U.S. also give the kind of guarantees that Afghanistan is seeking with this longer-term relationship with the United States? Will the U.S. do that?

RUMSFELD: I responded earlier saying that that's not a matter for the Department of Defense, that's a matter for the President of the United States to discuss with the President of Afghanistan in an orderly way.

... RUMSFELD: I don't know that it's for a visitor either one, to characterize what the gravest dangers are, but certainly the problem of terrorism in the world continues to be a serious one and the extremists that exist in this part of the world continue to threaten. I would add that the excellent start that Afghanistan has along the path to democracy is clearly something that can be damaged through the evils of narco-trafficking, and so I respect the efforts that are being made by the government in that connection.

Last I would say that it's not a menace, indeed it's an opportunity. That is that it has been impressive for me each time I've come to see the economic progress that's taking place, and to the extent that that continues to offer opportunities to the Afghan people I think that is important to their future, to their success, and to their well being, and I certainly wish the people of Afghanistan well in that regard.

PRESS: Mr. President, this is Bob Burns, Associated Press.  In your opening remarks you said you had a number of requests to make of Washington, that these would be made formally or are being made formally. Can you tell us what these requests are?

KARZAI: I have already discussed, this is with regard to Afghanistan's needs for a permanent relationship and a request in this regard would be sent to President Bush.

... KARZAI: Once we are ready with details, then we'll get back to you.

(end excerpt)