This
week, Foreign Ministers will meet in London
to discuss the Afghan government's strategy to improve security and governance
and -- just as important -- how the international community can better support Afghans.
In
advance of the conference, Britain's
Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, was in town last Thursday to discuss the
agenda and objectives with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe
Biden, and others. He also had the unprecedented privilege of speaking before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As Senator John Kerry said, it is vital
for the U.K. and U.S. to have
that kind of dialogue on an issue where we work so closely.
In his
remarks to
the Committee, Secretary Miliband elaborated on the basic approach that both
the U.S. and U.K. support:
While
necessary, military reinforcements alone will not be enough to achieve success.
In 2010, the international community needs to fully align military and civilian
resources behind a political strategy that engages the Afghan people in defence
of their country, divides the insurgency and builds regional cooperation. This
strategy needs to be led by the Afghans, but it requires international support.
That is the task ahead of us in London
next week.
The
increase in U.S. and international troops now being deployed in Afghanistan is
one crucial and high profile element in how we achieve our ultimate objective. The
sacrifices and dedication of the U.S.
armed forces are shared by the U.K.
-- over 10,000 of the U.K.'s
Armed Forces are working alongside them, mainly in southern Afghanistan,
where some of the very toughest fighting has taken place. And our other NATO
allies are providing many thousands more troops, making this a genuinely
international effort. We can take huge pride in their efforts.
But as
the Foreign Secretary made clear on the Hill, the Taliban need to be
out-governed as well as out-gunned. President Karzai's government and the
provincial governors must be seen to deliver economic opportunity for ordinary
Afghans, and legal structures that deliver justice, free of corruption. At the
same time, we need to continue to build up the Afghan government's own ability
to withstand the security threats it faces. None of this is easy. But it is
essential if the insurgency is going to be defeated.
Even
in the face of these very tough challenges, there are positive signs coming out
of Afghanistan.
Nearly three quarters of Afghans told a recent
poll that they are optimistic about the prospects for improved security in
2010. The Afghan economy has grown from a very
low base by 15% in the past year. And it's striking that very few Afghans have
any desire for the Taliban to return to government.
Nevertheless
we cannot -- and do not -- take progress for granted; this endeavor is
hard. The price we have paid in blood and treasure has been high. Those
fighting us are determined, and we have a tough fight ahead of us. But we are
in Afghanistan
for our own interests, as well as those of our Afghan allies. To allow the Taliban
and their al Qaeda allies to have free run of the country would be disastrous
for our own national security.
We now have a strategy that can
achieve success, and a window of opportunity to turn the tide and prevent Afghanistan
from again becoming a launching pad for international terrorism. The London conference will
set us on our way.
Sir Nigel Sheinwald is the British ambassador to the United States.
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