The Obama administration needs to link its counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan with efforts to improve governance there to be successful in defeating the Taliban, a former Afghan finance minister said on Wednesday.
Ashraf Ghani, a contender in August presidential elections, credited President Barack Obama with taking steps to create a "second chance" to build a stable Afghanistan after lost years since the U.S. invasion in 2001.
"To commit more forces in this time is an act of both courage and statesmanship," the former World Bank and U.N. official said in remarks at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington.
In a new strategy for Afghanistan unveiled last month, Obama said he would send in 17,000 more troops and make stabilization of Afghanistan and the war on Islamist militants there a top foreign policy priority.
Ghani, author of a new Atlantic Council report on Afghanistan, said, however, that "forces in themselves are not the answer. It is the strategy that is going to use them that is the issue."
He said the troop increase needed to be wed to a counterinsurgency strategy that supported renewed efforts in four key areas to build up the governing capacity of the Afghan state.
"The game changer is to produce a legitimate election that the next government of Afghanistan can have a mandate," said Ghani, who is seen as an outside contender in the August 20 presidential vote.
Tajikistan, U.S. sign MoU on cooperation between Tajik Prosecutor-General’s Office and US Department on introduction of PISCES
DPT’s leader replaced
Emomali Rahmon holds talks with his Russian counterpart in Moscow to discuss cooperation
Tajik leader participates in events dedicated to 79th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany
Congratulations on Vicotry Day
The world's most popular sport now has its own day for fans to celebrate — May 25
A conference expected to be held in Dushanbe next week to discuss once again the media law on media
Iran can serve as gateway for Central Asian countries to internal markets, says Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan
Another incident with use of firearms occurs on Tajik-Kyrgyz border
All five Central Asian leaders to attend Victory Day events in Moscow
All news
Авторизуйтесь, пожалуйста