Afghans Want Peacekeepers to Stay Beyond December

Reuters ^ | Februari 04 2003 | David Brunnstrom

[knighthawk]

KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said Tuesday he would like to see international peacekeepers stay on in the country after December, when their existing mandate expires.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters in Kabul, Abdullah said there was also an urgent need to focus more on a Japanese-led drive to disarm and demobilize regional militias loyal to provincial warlords, an issue President Hamid Karzai would discuss on a state visit to Tokyo later this month.

Asked whether he thought it would be possible to hold elections due in June next year without the presence of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is charged with helping maintain security in Kabul, Abdullah replied:

"We have not discussed it in those terms, but my perception is, my view is, it would be preferable to have ISAF's term extended beyond that date, beyond December 2003."

The mandate of the multinational force, currently around 4,000 strong, is due to expire in December. Germany and Holland are due to take over ISAF's leadership from Turkey for six months from February 10, but diplomats say it is not clear who will succeed them.

"ISAF's role has been very important," Abdullah said, adding that its presence had had an impact far beyond its limited mandate of helping to police Kabul.

"It is important at such a critical time we have the advantage of the presence of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan," he said.

Abdullah said he was certain a successor would be found to the Germans and Dutch, but was not optimistic ISAF's role would be expanded beyond Kabul despite pleas from the government, United Nations and other international organizations.

"We know the international community has been doing whatever possible in that field and we understand the constraints of the troop contributing countries," he said.

STABILITY

The minister said military teams now being deployed in the provinces to assist in post-war reconstruction by a U.S.-led coalition, which has been pursuing remnants of the former Taliban and al Qaeda network, did not amount to an expansion of ISAF but did help improve security and stability.

He said a key focus of Karzai's visit to Japan would be the effort to disarm, demobilize and find alternative jobs for soldiers in regional militias, which have been an obstacle to efforts to extend government control throughout the country.

Abdullah said the effort was dependent on other factors, including the development of a national army and police force, and the government itself had only just finalized the necessary preparatory work.

"It is not Japan that has moved slowly in that regard, it is a joint effort and there was a natural time for it," he said.

"It is a very urgent and important program for us, and we need -- as well as our partner in that field, which is Japan -- and other partners to focus more in this field."

Karzai's trip will also take him to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Mon-Aligned summit, to India, where he is to sign a trade agreement, then to the United States for meetings with President Bush, the Kabul government's main backer.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[marron]

Disarming the militias is not going to be possible until they have been made obsolete by an effective national army. The US has not placed a high enough priority on building the army, and until we do, you have neither the strength to oblige anyone to disarm, nor have you the strength to defend the country without their help.

What we have to accept is that for now, the warlords are part of the scenery, they are part of the defacto government of Afghanistan. Their forces are part of the defacto Afghan military. This is the reality.

[Free the USA]

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