Article written on 28/12/2006
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I visited the ISAF Headquarters at the invitation of Dominic Medley from ISAF’s commander division.
He was a great host and a helpful person and introduced me to Major Luke Knitting who gave me an overview of ISAF’s work in Afghanistan and its plans for the future.
Dominic also introduced me to Mark Laity, a civilian spokesman and media advisor for ISAF’s commander division. We spoke at length about the situation in Afghanistan. Everyone I met was very friendly and helpful. The visit was an eye-opener. The following are some of my observations from this visit. I also consider it worth mentioning what people in Afghanistan think of ISAF.
ISAF is currently comprised of more than 31,000 troops from 37 countries who support and assist the government of Afghanistan to provide and maintain security. ISAF is in Afghanistan at the request of the government and will remain in Afghanistan until such time as the government of Afghanistan no longer requires their support.
Before my visit, ISAF to me meant military action to bring security to Afghanistan. However, it does not stop there. ISAF is working on helping to ensure the security of mineral resources, border crossing points, and the transport network and water supplies. ISAF is also supporting the Afghan government in its counter narcotics campaign and also supporting development strategies to help Afghanistan become self-sufficient.
ISAF publishes many publications including a newspaper and monthly magazines such as ISAF Mirror and Afghan Scene as well as operating a radio station under the name of Sadai Azadi meaning the voice of freedom.
The question as to whether or not ISAF’s role is really working in Afghanistan and how people feel about its military force presence is not simple to answer.
The ISAF intentions are not always interpreted in a fair-minded way. Nor are any expectations of them any higher that what they have so far delivered. The Afghan population is not impressed with the delivery or the level of security or with reconstruction or other developments.
It is common practice for people to compare the security at present and the security at the time of the Taliban. Although people did not agree with the policies of Taliban but they cannot help but praise the security at the time of Taliban.
Regardless of the money poured into the counter narcotics campaign, farmers are determined to plant poppy again this year. They know there are plans to spray the poppy fields to kill the plants but farmers are willing to risk it anyway.
Before traveling to Afghanistan, I believed the Afghan population would be against the presence of foreign troops but it seems like ISAF have got that under control for the time being in most places.
People are not too bothered as long as there is peace and prosperity. There is a degree of negativity in the way ISAF is interpreted to the Afghan population. On my visit to the ISAF HQ I was told that ISAF have long term development plans in Afghanistan and do not plan to leave Afghanistan until there is reliable peace and stability.
These plans are interpreted as an American and British invasion of the country even though the ISAF forces are made up with troops from 37 countries and their goals are to bring stability and prosperity to Afghanistan.
Both ISAF forces and the Afghan army work together under one command throughout the entire country at present as opposed to previous agreements in which separate nations controlled smaller geographic areas. This unity of work means more strength with a bigger army that can cover the whole of the country.
ISAF is also working to soothe Pakistan-Afghan friction and is working with both governments to strengthen cooperation and to work towards stability on the border.
The impression I got was that ISAF believes in rebuilding Afghanistan and its infrastructure and has a concrete plan they are determined to implement. The process may be slow but long-term vision is considered in everything that is being done which means once it is in place, it would stay.
The concern I have is about the difference between what ISAF's vision is and what the wider population believes its vision is. The reason the presence of ISAF forces is considered as invasion is because of the American attack on Afghanistan in 2001 to remove the Taliban regime from power.
People still believe it is that mission that is being carried to completion by ISAF. ISAF may need to work on delivering the message to the Afghan nation that they are in Afghanistan to support the democratic government of Afghanistan and not to invade this country. This is my clear understanding of ISAF’s aims but Afghans’ perceptions of it is that it is purely an invasion presence.
If we want a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, we all need to work with and support the Afghan government. If the Afghan government thinks it needs the support of international forces to bring and maintain stability then we need to accept that because after all it is an Afghan elected government.
All Afghans are tired of the war. Let's stop focusing torches on this government’s faults alone. Let’s also shed light on the positive things it has given and continues to give the Afghan nation.
The reconstruction maybe slow but at least there is a process of reconstruction and not destruction, for once. The Afghan government is developing a proper structure. It is looking at diplomatically resolving issues instead of using force.
Those who committed serious war crimes are for the first time being prosecuted though human rights processes. Women have been given the chance to raise their voices in defense of their rights. There may not be a complete freedom of speech but at least it is going in that direction.
1 comment:
Good words.
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