Ambassador Jawad Speaks at Atlantic Council
Ambassador Said T. Jawad joined his Pakistani counterpart Ambassador Husain Haqqani at The Atlantic Council of the United States on April 9 for an event on the new U.S. strategy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. During the event, titled "Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Obama: Discussions on the New Strategy," Ambassador Jawad detailed the most important elements of the new strategy and identified a primary challenge for the future -- its implementation.
Referring to the new strategy, Ambassador Jawad stated, "The Afghan Government welcomed the new policy and is particularly in favor of the attention and resources being allocated to increase the size of the Afghan army and enhance the capacity of the Afghan Government to deliver services and provide protection to its citizens." He continued, "The new strategy rightfully places the challenges facing Afghanistan in a larger regional context, demands changes in the management of resources and focuses on aid efficiency."
Ambassador Jawad expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity senior Afghan officials had to offer input and insights into the new strategy (a senior delegation visited Washington at the end of February 2009), and listed the areas where Afghan priorities were worked into the new U.S. roadmap for the region.
Among those were a surge in the quantity and quality of U.S. troops in Afghanistan coupled with an expansion of the Afghan security forces; an increase in resources to enhance the capacity of the Afghan Government to deliver services and provide protection to its citizens; more funds channeled through the Afghan government and trust funds to be used for locally tailored development projects; a regional approach to the battle against terrorism and extremism; the setting of clear parameters in negotiations with the Taliban; that the fight against narcotics be part of the mandate in the fight against terrorism; and that there be an increase in capacity-building and institution-building as part of the larger fight against corruption.
Ambassador Jawad noted that while the strategy is comprehensive, the key challenge that remains is its effective implementation. "To successfully implement this new strategy, we will need both resources and coordination. Unlike in the past, President Obama seems focused on doing what is needed, not merely doing what can be done with the limited resources available," he stated.
"Just as important as the resources is the coordination of international efforts in Afghanistan," he said. "With 40 countries contributing troops and almost 60 countries providing resources and assistance, it is vital that our efforts neither be redundant nor contradictory."
Ambassador Jawad also stressed the need not to reduce expectations for what can be accomplished in Afghanistan. "There is one last obstacle we will have to overcome in implementing this strategy – the talk about reduced expectations, reductionist and defeatist approaches. I can't argue strongly enough against these defeatist attitudes which feed into the Taliban and Al-Qaeda propaganda that questions NATO and the United States' staying power," he said.
He closed by reassuring the audience of the benefit to the U.S. and Europe of remaining active in Afghanistan. "Building a peaceful, pluralistic and prosperous Afghanistan would not only benefit the Afghan people, but it would also serve to help stabilize the region and secure the world. We know from history what happens when Afghanistan is left behind and forgotten or when shortsighted policies use extremism as a tool of foreign policy."
Speech: Full Text of Ambassador Jawad's Remarks (.PDF) (Podcast of the Event)
Related News: Pakistani, Afghan Envoys Speak on Obama War Plan (AFP)
Afg., Pak. Ambassadors Criticize Obama Strategy (Wash. Independent)
