09 October 2007
NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS RAISE
CONCERNS ON AFGHANISTAN
NATO Parliamentarians called today for greater resources and enhanced cooperation by NATO, the UN and the European Union in Afghanistan. The resolution was adopted in plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA) today, during the annual session held in Reykjavik, Iceland on 6-9 October.
The adoption is the culmination of two days of lively discussion in committees on the issue of Afghanistan, prompted by two reports submitted containing disturbing findings: "Afghanistan and NATOÂ’s ongoing Transformation" presented by Raynell Andreychuk, a Canadian Senator, and "Afghanistan: Assessing Progress and Key Challenges for the Alliance" presented by Frank Cook, a British MP[1]. Mr Cook was among the NATO-PA delegation which visited Afghanistan early September.
Both reports expressed concern following a significant deterioration in security conditions for both civilians and ISAF troops, the resurgence of centres of insurrection in the south of the country, corruption at the highest levels in local authorities and the allies' failure to check the country's slide towards becoming a "narco-state".
Both praised the outstanding work by ISAF troops under extremely difficult conditions and noted "tangible" progress, particularly in economic terms, in Kabul as in other provinces. However, in their opinion the deterioration in the situation, which Loïc Bouvard, a French Deputy, described in the course of the discussions as "overwhelming", was due to NATO's lack of clear strategic objectives, the continuing use of national caveats and a substantial lack of financial and human resources which, according to Frank Cook, "has dramatic consequences, not only for the theatre of operations but also for the Afghan people".
Nevertheless, during the discussions many parliamentarians reaffirmed their support for the Afghan people, and agreed that an allied presence in the country was indispensable. However, Canadian and Dutch parliamentarians, whose countries provide the bulk of the allied troops in Afghanistan, with the United Kingdom, stressed that they would not be able to justify bearing such a burden alone for much longer, given public opinion in those countries, and launched an appeal to their alliance opposite numbers for real support on the ground and geographical rotation of troops.
Lastly, Khalid A. Pashtoon, the head of the delegation and a member of the lower house of the Afghan parliament, spoke during the discussions in both committees. In his view the presence of NATO on the ground was indispensable as long as Afghans were not in a position "to stand on their feet" and the allies' efforts along these lines were much appreciated. Nonetheless he deplored the deterioration in security conditions in the country, which he regarded as due to a lack of political will and little progress training of police forces, in which corruption is an acknowledged fact. It was essential for NATO to expedite the training so that Afghans could at last take control of their destiny.
This was the second occasion on which an Afghan delegation was invited to participate in a session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
[1]Both these reports are available on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's website, http://www.nato-pa.int
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Roberta Calorio
Rose-Roth Seminar and Media Relations co-ordinator
Executive Office
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
International Secretariat
Place du Petit Sablon 3
1000 Brussels
Belgium
' +32 2 504 8154 (Direct Line)
' +32 2 513 2865 (Switchboard)
1 +32 2 514 1847
* rcalorio@nato-pa.int
Website: www.nato-pa.int
Roberta Calorio
Rose-Roth Seminar and Media Relations co-ordinator
Executive Office
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
International Secretariat
Place du Petit Sablon 3
1000 Brussels
Belgium
' +32 2 504 8154 (Direct Line)
' +32 2 513 2865 (Switchboard)
1 +32 2 514 1847
* rcalorio@nato-pa.int
Website: www.nato-pa.int