Defense Secretary Robert Gates meets U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 23. The Marines are headed to Afghanistan.

24 April 2009

Stability in Pakistan Is Central to U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan, April 24, 2009

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — The stability and longevity of democracy in Pakistan is central to efforts by the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, and it is also central to U.S.-Pakistani relations, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.

“My hope is that there will be an increasing recognition on the part of the Pakistani government that the Taliban in Pakistan are in fact an existential threat to the democratic government of that country,” Gates said at an April 23 press conference while he was visiting U.S. Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The Marines are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan within days.

“I think that some of the leaders certainly understand that, but it is important that they not only recognize it but take the appropriate actions to deal with it.”

The concerns being expressed in Washington and elsewhere stem from aggressive efforts by the Taliban insurgency, which is using the federal tribal areas of northwest Pakistan as a base for launching operations into Afghanistan. A day after Gates’ remarks at Camp Lejeune, a Taliban commander said he was withdrawing his fighters from the Buner Valley, which is just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Gates said the United States wants to support the Pakistani government, “but it is important that they recognize the real threats to their country.”

President Obama meets with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Washington May 6–7. He will hold three-way consultations with the two leaders.

NEW STRATEGY

In late March, the president announced a new strategy that is intended to disrupt, dismantle and defeat the terrorist group al-Qaida and the remnants of the former Taliban regime that have been working aggressively to regain control of Afghanistan. Defense Under Secretary Michele Flournoy said in recent congressional testimony that to accomplish this mission the United States must eliminate these groups’ safe haven in the mountain range on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“All of the elements of national power we employ — political, diplomatic, military and economic — must be oriented on achieving this goal,” Flournoy said. Success will depend on a commitment of resources and funding coupled with time, she said.

Obama announced he was sending an additional 17,000 U.S. troops and Marines to Afghanistan in the coming months to join the 38,000 already there, and he is also ordering an additional 4,000 troops to act as trainers for the Afghan army.

Every American combat unit in Afghanistan will be partnered with an Afghan unit, and more trainers will be requested from NATO allies to ensure that every Afghan unit has a coalition partner. The goal is to build the Afghan army from about 80,000 troops to 134,000 and expand the national police force from 78,000 to 82,000 officers.

Currently, the total number of U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan is 70,140 troops, according to the Pentagon and NATO.

Obama has asked Congress to approve $1.5 billion in direct support to Pakistan each year over the next five years to build up civil infrastructure and strengthen the Pakistani government.

Flournoy said the military will work to build the counterterrorism and counterinsurgency capabilities of both countries.

Gates said that one of the areas where the United States is seeking assistance from allies and partners is civilian capacity in Afghanistan, “people who are agronomists, veterinarians, who know how to put in water supplies, educators, accountants, lawyers and so on.”