DG Interview: His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador
to the United States
Development Gateway
01/07/2004
His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad is the Afghan
Ambassador to the United States. He has served as Chief of Staff
of President Hamid Karzai, President’s Spokesman, Press
Secretary, and the Director of the Office of International Relations
at the Presidential Palace between March 2001 and September
2003.
Ambassador Jawad is a diplomat with the synergy
of an excellent academic background and extensive experience
in formulating strategies and implementing policies in Afghanistan.
His experiences in managing reforms in a fragile environment
have made him instrumental in rebuilding national institutions
in Afghanistan. In addition, he is a renowned writer and commentator
on Afghan and international affairs.
During his tenure as Chief of Staff to President
Karzai, Ambassador Jawad was responsible for formulating policies,
building national institutions, prioritizing reforms and implementing
the President’s directives. He accompanied the President
and managed all foreign trips and state visits. He actively
participated in bilateral meetings with the heads of states
and governments.
As director of the Office of International relations
he advised President Karzai on a range of domestic and international
issues, as well as security and reconstruction matters. Ambassador
Jawad observed cabinet meetings and participated in the National
Security Council meetings. He worked
closely with the US and Afghan military experts on rebuilding
the Afghan National Army and reforming the Ministry of Defense.
As a legal professional, he drafted legal documents
and presidential decrees, and reviewed and revised major treaties
and agreements. He has been closely involved with the process
of drafting Afghanistan’s new constitution, and served
as a liaison between President Karzai and the constitutional
commission.
DG: What were some of the key areas of contention
when the draft Constitution was debated at the Loya Jirga?
After three decades or war and violence, Afghans
are enjoying the opportunity to express their opinion freely
and share ideas about how to build their war ravaged country.
The people of Afghanistan are univocally demanding peace, security,
national unity, and national institutions, such as national
army and national police force. While the objective is the same,
the people are suggesting different ways and means of achieving
it. The people demand
an effective government and a system that guaranty stability
and unity of power.
DG: What role will Islam play in governance?
Afghans are devoted, moderate Muslims and proud
of their tradition and heritage. They would like to see the
preservation of traditional and Islamic values in their society.
Islam does not contradict with good governance. Governance is
based on professionalism, efficiency and transparency,and we
are moving towards a system, where all major civil service appointments
are based on
merit.
DG: According to the Constitution, how will the
power be shared between 1) the
Presidency and Parliament and 2) the central government and
provincial authorities?
While under a typical presidential system the
power of parliament is rather limited; our new constitution
provides for a strong parliament and better system of check
and balance. The executive power and major decision of the president
is, in most cases, subject to "approval" by the parliament.
Afghans are demanding a strong, stable and united country. The
memories of a country divided among warlords, having many currencies
and destruction of our country under disguise of ethnicity and
religion still haunt the Afghan people. They are determined
to end factionalism, warlordism and illegal power exercised
by the local commanders, warlords and drug barons. To build
a united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan, and to empower
the people of Afghanistan, the constitution provides for provincial
and district councils or Shuras.
DG: How will the new Constitution and upcoming
elections bring together various ethnic factions?
Afghanistan is a mosaic of various ethnic groups.
The beauty of Afghanistan is in its cultural and natural diversity.
The various ethnic groups are together. They have lived with
each other for thousand of years, they all fell victims of terrorism
and tyranny. They demonstrated their spectacular unity during
the proceedings of the Constitutional Loya Jirga. Foreign intervention,war
and violence imposed on Afghan armed factions that were-and
some still are- trying to acquire legitimacy under the name
of ethnicity or religion. Afghans would like to see an end to
the rule of gun and power of armed factions. The election will
help end factionalism and build a civic society.
DG: What were some of the challenges faced by
female delegates at the Loya Jirga?
The female delegates had the most progressive
and most nationalistic positions and views throughout the proceedings
of the Loya Jirga. They were well respected -and received strong
support- by their male colleague for their courage and devotion
to the cause of peace and stability in Afghanistan. One delegate
complained that she was not able to prepare a written speech,
since she was not able to read. She said that she wanted to
make sure that her daughter will not face the same challenge.
She wanted school and education for all girls in her village.
DG: What provisions are present in the Constitution
to ensure women's rights?
Women enjoy the same rights as men. They can run
for any office; they can vote, elect or be elected to parliament
or any other governmental body. In the parliament upper house
special quota is allocated to women.
DG: What role will women play in the governance
of Afghanistan?
Legally they can play any role that they want.
Practically, it will take time for the women to acquire the
position that they are entitled to. Both Afghan men and women
are lacking the necessary professional skills. Unfortunately,
in the past the women were either deprived of their rights to
education under Taliban, or the war and lack of security prevented
them from enjoy their rights to education. This is why President
Karzai has indicated on many occasions that the best guaranty
for women rights is to provide them with equal access to education.
Last year more than two million girls enrolled into school.
DG: What are some of the key security threats
in Afghanistan? Is it likely to dismantle the political progress?
How can these security threats be overcome?
All security threats are due to terrorist infiltration
from across the border. These threats will not dismantle the
political progress, but it could slowdown the reconstruction
pace. To overcome the terrorist threat we must enhance regional
cooperation in our common fight against terrorism, expedite
the training of the Afghan national Army and national police
force, build national
institutions, fight narcotics, expand the International Security
Assistance Force to all major urban centers, and increase the
number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
DG: What are some of the challenges to building
a broad based government in
Afghanistan?
The biggest challenge of governance in Afghanistan
is lack of human capital and national institutions. The current
government is broad based -it was elected by almost absolute
majority in the Loya Jirag or the Afghan national council-,
but it lacks the means and tools to deliver the service to the
people of Afghanistan.
