US Afghan strategy renews hope in NATO
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Fulya Özerkan
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 20, 2009 00:00
BRUSSELS -The new US strategy toward Afghanistan bolsters the current understanding of the situation among NATO member states and pleases Turkey, which has said since the beginning that security and stability in Afghanistan cannot be maintained through military measures only. The first signs of the new US strategy were seen at NATO summit
The new U.S. administration's strategy of a comprehensive approach toward Afghanistan, one of the most challenging missions NATO has ever undertaken, and engaging with Pakistan, has been welcomed by the alliance's member states, including Turkey.
The initial signs of the new U.S. strategy were first seen at the NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kiel in April, which became a scene of renewal in the transatlantic climate. "This is much to do with a new U.S. president visiting Europe for the first time in his capacity as president," said a source. President Barack Obama joined NATO leaders at the summit marking 60 years of peace and security within the alliance, whose core task is the collective defense understanding of "one for all and all for one."
But this positive approach is also a product of changing policies in Washington. NATO allies have found the Obama administration to engage multilaterally in the transatlantic alliance and all international organizations that play a role in shaping global security issues.
"This is something we did not see under the Bush administration," said the source. "The renewed policy of engaging with both Afghanistan and Pakistan has been a very vivid example that the new U.S. administration is serious when it says it wants to listen first and then collectively with the allies decide on how to go forward on a particular issue. That message was very strongly echoed by President Obama in Strasbourg."
Afghanistan top priority for NATOÂ Â
Afghanistan is NATO's number one priority and political challenge. "The situation in Afghanistan has not become easier than what it was five years ago," said an official. Despite the progress made in some geographical areas and NATO assistance to the build up of Afghan security and police resources, problems are still ongoing.
One of the major reasons for the continued problems is the failure to coordinate efforts, according to the official, who stressed that the comprehensive approach and concerted efforts must start first in capitals before reaching Afghanistan.
Another reason is the growing insurgencies, primarily from the Pakistani border and namely the "Talibanization" of the frontier where there has been no Pakistani government control for a long time.
"Everybody understands that a military campaign cannot be the only solution," said the official. "We need to clear the area of insurgents and create stability. Afghanistan is still a safe haven for the Taliban. Before pouring money in we need to know what to accomplish."
The current understanding within NATO member states has been deemed satisfactory by Turkey, which since the very beginning said security and stability in Afghanistan could not be maintained only through military measures. "The new U.S. administration has adopted an approach that includes the civilian component as well as Pakistan. The United States is an influential country in NATO activities and the change in its strategy is a positive development," said a Turkish official, who declined to be named.
Need to reach consensus about Pakistan
However, how NATO can engage with Pakistan is a source of questions. "We don't have a master plan, but we gradually need to find a consensus on what could be the political, diplomatic, economic and military to military coordination that we can offer to Pakistan in order to help stabilize that enormously large and nuclear country," said a well-informed source.
The mission of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, which operates in Afghanistan under a U.N. mandate, is limited to Afghanistan's borders, without any engagement with Pakistan. One official said this would be a political decision if there was a need for an ISAF-type task in Pakistan.
Turkey enjoys special ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Pakistan is an important country by itself and it should not be looked at from the focus of Afghanistan," said the unnamed Turkish official.
Turkey, which has been present in Afghanistan since 2001, has some 800 troops under the ISAF and is readying to take over the Kabul regional command in November.
The initial signs of the new U.S. strategy were first seen at the NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kiel in April, which became a scene of renewal in the transatlantic climate. "This is much to do with a new U.S. president visiting Europe for the first time in his capacity as president," said a source. President Barack Obama joined NATO leaders at the summit marking 60 years of peace and security within the alliance, whose core task is the collective defense understanding of "one for all and all for one."
But this positive approach is also a product of changing policies in Washington. NATO allies have found the Obama administration to engage multilaterally in the transatlantic alliance and all international organizations that play a role in shaping global security issues.
"This is something we did not see under the Bush administration," said the source. "The renewed policy of engaging with both Afghanistan and Pakistan has been a very vivid example that the new U.S. administration is serious when it says it wants to listen first and then collectively with the allies decide on how to go forward on a particular issue. That message was very strongly echoed by President Obama in Strasbourg."
Afghanistan top priority for NATOÂ Â
Afghanistan is NATO's number one priority and political challenge. "The situation in Afghanistan has not become easier than what it was five years ago," said an official. Despite the progress made in some geographical areas and NATO assistance to the build up of Afghan security and police resources, problems are still ongoing.
One of the major reasons for the continued problems is the failure to coordinate efforts, according to the official, who stressed that the comprehensive approach and concerted efforts must start first in capitals before reaching Afghanistan.
Another reason is the growing insurgencies, primarily from the Pakistani border and namely the "Talibanization" of the frontier where there has been no Pakistani government control for a long time.
"Everybody understands that a military campaign cannot be the only solution," said the official. "We need to clear the area of insurgents and create stability. Afghanistan is still a safe haven for the Taliban. Before pouring money in we need to know what to accomplish."
The current understanding within NATO member states has been deemed satisfactory by Turkey, which since the very beginning said security and stability in Afghanistan could not be maintained only through military measures. "The new U.S. administration has adopted an approach that includes the civilian component as well as Pakistan. The United States is an influential country in NATO activities and the change in its strategy is a positive development," said a Turkish official, who declined to be named.
Need to reach consensus about Pakistan
However, how NATO can engage with Pakistan is a source of questions. "We don't have a master plan, but we gradually need to find a consensus on what could be the political, diplomatic, economic and military to military coordination that we can offer to Pakistan in order to help stabilize that enormously large and nuclear country," said a well-informed source.
The mission of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, which operates in Afghanistan under a U.N. mandate, is limited to Afghanistan's borders, without any engagement with Pakistan. One official said this would be a political decision if there was a need for an ISAF-type task in Pakistan.
Turkey enjoys special ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. "Pakistan is an important country by itself and it should not be looked at from the focus of Afghanistan," said the unnamed Turkish official.
Turkey, which has been present in Afghanistan since 2001, has some 800 troops under the ISAF and is readying to take over the Kabul regional command in November.