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Karzai seeks end to NATO reconstruction teams

 
The New York Times
February 6, 2011
Judy Dempsey
 
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan called Sunday for the speedy dismantling of NATO-run provincial reconstruction teams, the first time he had made such a demand.
 
To an audience of foreign ministers and defense experts attending the annual Munich Security Conference, Mr. Karzai also repeated his call for allied governments to stop using private security companies, contending that they, along with the civilian-military reconstruction teams, are an impediment to the central government's expanding its authority throughout the country.
 
Mr. Karzai, who is under renewed criticism from Western governments over the corruption scandal engulfing one of the largest banks in the country and involves members of his family, made his remarks to an audience that included Adm. James G. Stavridis, NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe.
 
Donor and coalition countries finance the reconstruction teams directly rather than through the Afghan government because of corruption concerns.
 
Mr. Karzai was asked several times whether he really wanted the teams to be wound up so quickly. "Yes," he said.
 
The German foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, speaking on the same panel with Mr. Karzai, said the international community was right to ask questions about whether international money was reaching the intended recipients.
 
"We can only justify our engagement, which costs our German taxpayers and other taxpayers of the alliance enormous amounts of money, if we know and can be assured that this is something that is really for the people," Mr. Westerwelle said.
 
Admiral Stavridis, who oversees the operations of the 143,000-strong NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, was quick to counter Mr. Karzai's claims, saying the reconstruction teams posed no challenge to the central government. He said there was no doubt that they would be phased out as the United States looks to begin withdrawing its 98,000 troops this summer, and as the Afghan Army and security forces take control throughout the country.
 
"We are in a dialogue of transition," Admiral Stavridis said.
 
Mr. Karzai said he would announce next month - to coincide with the Persian New Year - when Afghan forces would be ready to take control of the entire country.
 
Admiral Stavridis said that whatever dates Mr. Karzai decided upon, the big issue currently facing the coalition was "how we consolidate our security gains" that NATO has made in recent months against the insurgents.
 
"There is cautious optimism. Now is the time to sustain the solidarity," Admiral Stavridis said, referring to those countries that have troops serving in Afghanistan.
 
Despite the gains by NATO, one U.S. senator, Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, said it was unwise to set the beginning of any exit date.
 
"If anyone starts to race ahead toward the door, then there will be a rush that could result in failure," Mr. Lieberman said.
 
At its summit meeting in Lisbon in November, NATO agreed to end its military presence in Afghanistan in 2014 but to keep military advisers and trainers there if necessary.
 
The German government agreed last month to begin the withdrawal of its 4,700 troops at the end of this year, depending on security conditions. The Polish foreign minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, said Sunday that Poland would withdraw all of its 2,600 troops by 2014.
 
But with Western governments still skeptical about Mr. Karzai's determination and ability to crack down on corruption, they are reluctant to dismantle the provincial reconstruction teams or phase out private security firms.
 
Donor countries and the 49 nations that form the broad military coalition in Afghanistan use the teams to rebuild infrastructure and construct schools and hospitals.
 
The reconstruction teams were established several years ago by NATO, with countries, jointly or individually, gradually establishing a military presence throughout Afghanistan. The idea was to provide security to donors nations and also protect the local population until the Karzai government was capable of extending its authority beyond Kabul.
 
As for private security firms, the United States in particular has used them, much to the annoyance of the Karzai government, because they, like the reconstruction teams, function outside its control.
 
Indeed, Mr. Karzai made clear in his speech that he saw this international presence as a threat of his authority.
 
He insisted that the Afghan Army and police forces would be ready to take over full responsibility by 2014. In the meantime, he said, his administration did not want any competing parallel structures.
 
"It prevents the growth of the Afghan government and they provide a challenge to the Afghan government," Mr. Karzai said. "Their role confuses people - they ask who is in charge. As the Afghan government takes more responsibility and relieves you of the burdens and responsibilities, the parallel structures should be ended."
 
© 2011 The New York Times Company
 
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| Ander Nieuws week 8 / Midden-Oosten 2011 |