30 June 2011 - NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS STRESS SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO GET TRANSITION RIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN

The visit’s findings warn of the growing impatience in national capitals and rising pressure to demonstrate concrete achievements, at a time when international engagement in Afghanistan – both in terms of military presence and international assistance – has likely reached its peak.

One of the key potential risks mentioned in the findings of the delegation’s visit to Kabul and Kandahar is the issue of trainer shortfalls for the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A). The mission currently faces a shortfall of 952 trainers, or one third of the requested target, the delegation heard. In March 2012, the mission would still face a prospective shortfall of 470 trainers to reach the required total of 2,800 trainers. More trainers were needed for the army and the police, as well as in specialty areas such as medical, logistics, and air, the delegation reported.  “European governments need to stand up to the mark, and help fill these gaps”, Hugh Bayley stressed. “The ability of the Afghan National Security Forces to stand on their own feet and provide for Afghanistan ’s security is the key to transition. This is also what will allow our troops eventually to leave Afghanistan knowing that it will never again become a safe haven for international terrorism and a threat to our security.”

The delegation’s findings also highlight two long-term risks connected with the ANSF’s future. First is the cost of sustaining the force. This cost, currently estimated at some 8 billion dollars, or 50% of the estimated Afghan GDP, will need to be borne jointly by Afghanistan and the international community for years to come, the delegation’s report warns. Accountability and democratic control of the ANSF are also essential to counter the risk of Afghanistan ever turning into a military dictatorship, the report reads. “The end of President Karzai’s mandate in 2014 will no doubt raise difficult questions of succession at a sensitive time that will coincide with the end of the process of transition”, Mr Bayley noted; “this is something we need to start thinking about now”.

In this regard, continued support for the development of institutions of governance remained essential. In meetings with their counterparts from the Afghan Parliament, members of the delegation stressed the NATO PA’s willingness to strengthen the existing partnership between the Afghan Parliament and the NATO PA, and seek ways to assist with capacity-building efforts for the Parliament. “Afghan parliamentarians also need a direct communication channel to NATO authorities, which they can use to share their concerns”, Mr Bayley stressed; “existing links between the Afghan Parliament and the office of the NATO Senior Civilian Representative can serve this function, and could be developed”.

The report also discusses a number of other challenges, including the long-term financial sustainability of Afghanistan, rule of law and the fight against corruption, Afghan-Pakistani relations, reconciliation with the insurgency, the long-term partnership between Afghanistan and NATO and Afghanistan and the United States.

“The road ahead might not be entirely smooth, and we need to take these risks very seriously, but the transition to Afghan lead is our shared goal and responsibility“, Mr Bayley said. “I would like to pay tribute to the commitment and dedication of our military and civilian personnel engaged in this vital effort.”

The full report of the visit is available here