Afghanistan Belongs to Afghans

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has experienced yet another of his fed-up moments. He had previously ordered private security operators out of Afghanistan. That did create somewhat of a problem for the foreign entities present who relied on those operators, as well as the NGOs who also hired them for security and protection amidst the violence that continues to prevail in the country.

President Karzai does appreciate, he says now and again, the efforts extended on the part of NATO and international humanitarian groups on behalf of his country's stability and security. He would dearly love to see them depart, but is yet dependent on their presence for his own longevity.

Yet he is also prepared to speak with the Taliban, covertly and overtly, to bargain and make co-governing overtures to them. None of which have as yet been accepted.

Currently, foreign troops consider the most valuable aspect of their operations in the country to be represented by a newer initiative; the provincial reconstruction teams. Where, they feel, they have the opportunity to ensure that remote villages are kept safe from the Taliban, where they aid in building schools and medical clinics, and general civil infrastructure.

In short, the kinds of activities that any responsible, self-respecting government would normally undertake on its own initiative, ably representing the needs of the people they govern. But which the Government of Afghanistan has been abysmally incapable of doing, let alone providing any measure of security.

But now, he has decided that those activities should come to a halt. He bridles at having been by-passed, that his government stands idly by while other countries perform the vital tasks the population in 27 of the country's 34 provinces require to have faith in their future, absent the Taliban, still resolutely lingering.

"Afghanistan belongs to Afghans", he fulminated at a news conference in Kabul. "Afghans don't want government from abroad. Afghans don't want a European government. Afghans don't want an American government. Afghans don't want a Pakistan government. Afghans don't want an Iranian government."

Most assuredly. Wouldn't we all love to have Afghanistan rule itself and take responsibility for its own security. Wouldn't all the foreign elements now in place there anxiously await the relief that departure from that geography would endow them with. An Afghan government ready and capable of looking after its own.

Over to you now, President Karzai.