22 September 2005

Afghanistan Needs Continued Aid, Foreign Minister Abdullah Says, September 22, 2005

(Diplomat hails September 18 elections as "landmark event" for Afghan people)

By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent

New York -- The recent parliamentary and provincial elections were "a major turnaround and landmark event" for the people of Afghanistan, the country's foreign minister said September 22.

"The people of Afghanistan with the background of 25 years of wars and destruction and occupations and suffering decided and seized the opportunity" to change, Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said at a meeting with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Abdullah said that four years ago, 90 percent of Afghanistan was under the rule of the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorist groups that threatened not only the Afghan people, but global peace and stability.  Now the country has completed an arduous transition towards stability and democracy.

The Afghan people, Abdullah said, "recognized that life has changed and there is an opportunity and there is a new rule of living and working together and that is through the democratic process."

In each step -- from the two national Loya Jirgas [Grand Councils], adoption of a new constitution, and first-ever presidential elections to the recent parliamentary and provincial elections -- "the people are contributing willingly to make it a success and they have done so," he said.  (See Democratic Afghanistan.)

James Traub, contributing writer for the New York Times magazine and moderator of the CFR meeting, called the elections extraordinary.  He also quoted an Arab News Service article that described the elections as "a brave, public, and transparent vote for peace."

Traub’s observations echoed those of President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who issued statements congratulating the government and people of Afghanistan for their successful parliamentary elections.  The elections "are a major step forward in Afghanistan's development as a democratic state governed by the rule of law," Bush said.  (See related article.)

THREAT FROM AL-QAIDA CONTINUES

Abdullah said that even though progress has been remarkable over the past four years, it will take long-term commitment from the international community for Afghanistan to succeed.  (See related article.)

Threats and attacks from the Taliban and al-Qaida continue and probably will for some time, he said.

When they were driven from Afghanistan, the foreign minister continued, "It was a strategic defeat.  The Taliban and al-Qaida lost its capital and will do everything it can to reverse its failure.

"I will not be surprised if they try to hit because success in Afghanistan is failure for al-Qaida.  Success in Iraq for the coalition will be a failure for al-Qaida," he said.

The foreign minister said he would not characterize the continuing attacks by the terrorists against civilians, aid workers and other so-called "soft targets" as an indication of increasing strength or the opening of a second front.

"It is difficult to bring coordination among the international community, but terrorist groups and elements automatically -- or by their nature -- are good in coordinating efforts.  And it is automatic when they see and find a chance they will hit."

In a speech the previous day to the United Nations General Assembly, the foreign minister said that "terrorism remains as one of the main challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development in Afghanistan.  The continued infiltration of al-Qaida and Taliban extremists in the South and parts of the East of the country remains a contributing factor to insecurity."

AFGHANISTAN NEEDS ONGOING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Abdullah stressed the importance of "a sincere commitment by all countries of the region" to combat terrorism and provide international aid to help develop the country's own army and police.

He said that the concept of an Afghan army was "an idea" four years ago, but now the army continues to grow, train and perform well. Although it is not yet able to defend the country against the Taliban and al-Qaida on its own, "in some years our hope is that it will.  Why not?" he told the CFR.

One of his worries, the foreign minister said, is that the international community will not stay the course for the long-term development.

"We have suffered because of similar situations when the world was not interested in Afghanistan and, as a result of that, the world suffered and we suffered enormously," he said.

"A 10-year long-term commitment is the right investment for the international community," Abdullah said.  "It is not just investment in the well-being of one nation, it is more than that." 

He pointed to the significant strides made in the past four years to overcome the devastation and war caused by the Taliban's rule.

"We started as a high emergency case, a crisis; today we have moved out of that," the minister said.  "Certain things have been done in building infrastructure, capacity building, millions of refugees have returned back home, 5 [million] to 6 million boys and girls are going to school.  The country has had good crops and will one day be self-sufficient in wheat.  The volume of trade between Afghanistan and its neighbors has been growing steadily and last year was at $1.5 billion."

But to continue the changes, Abdullah said, resources will be needed, as well as plans to allocate those resources effectively and implement aid projects.

For information on Afghanistan’s economic development, see Rebuilding Afghanistan.