Recognition Grows of Pakistan, Afghanistan as Regional Problem

07 May 2009

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer
 

Documents & Texts from America.gov

Washington — The Obama administration's review of U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan has led to wider recognition that the security challenges posed by the Taliban and al-Qaida are a regional problem and require a common front, President Obama’s national security advisor told reporters.

“We have several countries, but we have one theater. And this is the way we're looking at it,” retired General James Jones said May 6 after President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other U.S. officials held meetings with Afghan and Pakistani delegations led by Presidents Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari, respectively.

“The fact that people recognize that this is a regional problem — that's relatively new I think, within the last six months,” Jones said. The administration’s regional policy review, as well as the appointment of Special Representative Richard Holbrooke, occurred soon after Obama’s January 20 inauguration. (See “Analysis: Afghanistan Needs the World’s Help.”)

The central goal of the trilateral discussions held in Washington May 6–7 has been “to make sure that all parties understand that this is a united front, not only among the presidents, but among the ministers of defense, the foreign ministers and the various echelons of government involved with economic reconstruction, judicial reform, and all of those things that go into stabilizing a situation.”

Along with viewing the security situation as a common concern that requires a military response, the new U.S. strategy emphasizes the role of reconstruction, governance and rule of law that should be implemented “in concert with the security efforts,” Jones said.

The national security advisor reported that at the beginning of his May 6 meeting with President Karzai, President Obama echoed Secretary Clinton’s statement of regret over the deaths of civilians in western Afghanistan.

“We regret the loss of life, particularly of innocent people. … The investigations under way will be pursued aggressively with full intent to discover what, in fact, did happen, how it happened, and how we can make sure that things like that do not happen again,” Jones reported the president as saying.

The Afghan leader, according to Jones, expressed his appreciation for the condolences and said he fully supports the new strategy, which calls for “more focused assistance on not only military training but civilian training for young people.” Karzai called for the development of Afghanistan’s export business, assistance with agriculture, and other projects “where people would notice the change in their lives,” Jones said.

Obama spoke with Karzai on the importance of Afghanistan’s August presidential elections being “as fair and open as possible,” and urged the Afghan leader to stamp out corruption and “the perception of corruption” in his government. Obama also encouraged the country to continue developing its civil liberties and human rights.

Karzai said, according to Jones, that regardless of whether Afghan voters re-elect him, “he would like to make sure that he contributes to institutionalizing democratic ideals in Afghanistan.” Karzai reported, Jones said, that under his administration, the number of Afghan students pursuing higher education had risen from 4,000 in 2002, when only men attended universities, to the current level of 75,000 male and female students.

In a separate meeting with Pakistani President Zardari, Obama also pledged to support the government’s efforts to institutionalize democracy despite the threat from extremists, Jones said. Jones also pointed out that bilateral military-to-military relations between the United States and Pakistan have not existed for nearly a decade, so the relationship is “somewhat embryonic,” and both countries are working to build it up to meet the threat.

“Miracles will not happen, so this won't happen quickly. But with a common focus, we can make strides … in the near future,” Jones said.

Zardari, Jones said, pledged “to meet the threat and to be successful” while also preserving Pakistan’s democracy and improving the economy, as well as building new infrastructure projects such as schools and hospitals.

Jones said the trilateral meeting of the three heads of state was “very warm,” and the presidents “embraced common themes, [and] an intent to work together.”

Gates Says Pakistani Operations Against the Taliban "Significant"

On his first visit to Afghanistan as a member of President Obama’s administration, Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised the Pakistani government’s “strong response” to the Taliban offensive in Buner district, which is about 100 kilometers northwest of Islamabad, the capital. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul May 7, Gates said the Taliban have “overreached” by coming within dozens of kilometers of Islamabad. The Taliban’s actions “served as an alarm for the Pakistani government that these violent extremists in the western part of Pakistan are a significant danger to the government,” he said.

Describing the Pakistani military’s operations against the Taliban as “significant,” Gates told reporters, “I do not anticipate at all that there will be American troops going into Pakistan from Afghanistan to deal with this problem.”

The U.S. goal is to work with Pakistan’s government and army as they meet the security challenges, he said. “And we are willing to do all we can to help.”

A transcript of Jones' remarks is available on America.gov.

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