BRUSSELS: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) foreign ministers on Wednesday admitted that military means were not a solution in Afghanistan and supported Kabul’s efforts to seek a political solution. This policy was part of an 11-page communique issued after a two-day meeting of foreign ministers at the Nato headquarters.The alliance called for increased cooperation with Pakistan.
“As a contribution to promoting regional peace and stability, we welcome the improving of relations between Kabul and Islamabad, and the recent military action Pakistan has taken against extremists along its border with Afghanistan,” the communique added.
Calling for better coordination between Nato, Isaf, Afghan and Pakistani forces, through the Tripartite Commission and other fora, Nato said it will take steps to improve border security, including exploring the establishment of more Border Coordination Centres and other possible joint initiatives.
“Nato is open to closer military-to-military cooperation and an enhanced high-level political dialogue with Pakistan. We will continue our enhanced dialogue with the Central Asian partners and Afghanistan in support of regional cooperation and a stable Afghanistan, while encouraging their active contribution, including through finalising transit arrangements of Central Asian countries with the alliance,” it says.
There is only passing reference to the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which the foreign ministers condemn it in the strongest terms and expressed their sincerest sympathies to the victims and their families.
The communique also takes note of its experience in Afghanistan and Kosovo, saying “today’s security challenges require a comprehensive approach by the international community, combining civil and military measures and coordination”.
The foreign ministers agreed that a comprehensive, civil-military approach by the international community is needed and it recognised that there is no solution purely on military ground. “In this regard, Nato stands ready to support Afghan-led efforts to achieve a political resolution to the conflict,” the alliance said.
However, in response to increasing criticism on civilian casualties inside Afghanistan, the alliance said: “We deplore all civilian casualties. Isaf continues to take all possible measures to protect civilians and stability in the region as a whole.”
Nato appears to be taking keen interest in the Afghan presidential and provincial elections scheduled for 2009 and 2010 calling them “important milestones for the democratic development of Afghanistan”.
In this regard, Isaf proposes support to the Afghan government’s efforts in securing the election process, including through temporary deployment of additional forces.
Meanwhile, Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at a press conference on Wednesday, publicly conceded in Brussels that the allies “had to do better,” inside Afghanistan, in the face of great challenges.
He also admitted that military means were not the answer inside Afghanistan, hinting at going for the political means.
Scheffer said: “The challenges are great...the allies have to do better and we need extra troops (in Afghanistan) for stability, particularly during the elections scheduled for next year.”
When asked if he was worried that Pakistan’s attention would be diverted to its eastern borders in the build-up of tensions with India in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, Scheffer said, “I am not concerned. I have no information in this case (about the build-up at the borders). It is important for Isaf and Nato that we have the cooperation of Pakistan. We hope that Pakistan will keep up (its activities at the Pak-Afghan border). No, I am not concerned.”
To another query, the secretary-general made a strong pitch for more troops inside Afghanistan where he said Nato proposes to stay for an unspecified time.“We need more troops to hold territory and for development work. Any extra US forces will be welcome,” he added.Scheffer also mentioned a meeting in Paris on Dec 14 of neighbours of Afghanistan to be hosted by the government of France.
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