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Atmar & Saleh Call for Long-term US Military Presence
Former Interior Minister Hanif Atmar and intelligence Chief Amrullah Saleh have voiced supported for long-term US military bases in Afghanistan. In a joint press conference in Kabul on Friday, the former influential and key Government officials said American bases are necessary for stability of the country. They called on the national leaders and politicians to support establishment of permanent US bases saying it would avoid interference of our neighboring countries, help end the conflict and continue the existential pace of current political system. The Friday’s joint press conference by the two most important and efficient high officials related to the affairs of our national security emphasizes that the leaders, MPs and politicians should listen to the calls of support for long-term US bases. It’s not about American interests; the continuity of the current system depends on presence of foreign troops. Much of our bleeding in the past 30 years is because of the regional proxy wars and interferences. Regional countries, particularly our two immediate neighbors, do not want presence of American troops in Afghanistan. They eye their interests and have been dreaming “strategic depth” and influence drafting their plans of post-American Afghanistan. The opposition leaders, tribal politicians, MPs, opinion makers and religious scholars should do what Atmar and Saleh did, come to public and call the Government to be clear in its strategy for our national security and support long-term US military presence in Afghanistan to keep the ten years of stability go and avoid our neighbors launch their proxy wars and influence rivalries. The Karzai Administration is heading towards self-prioritized narrow-sighted plans that are only for the sake of the continuity of ruling, not worrying about the future of the country. The current efforts of reconciliation with Taliban are so ambiguous that the Government itself is not confident about the outcome. They are pursuing it with the mind of just giving a try. That’s not how our decision makers should be worrying about our national security and the continuity of the political system. We believe even if important leaders from Kandahari faction of Taliban agree to negotiate with the Government, the so-called peace and reconciliation program without a clear strategy and principles will end to nowhere, and finally it will bring an embarrassment not more different the previous story of Taliban imposter. The international community should avoid a repeat of history by a hasty and premature withdrawal. A similar withdrawal was that of the Soviet Union which brought Afghanistan into civil war and the rise of Taliban. With the changing interest of the western world, it seems that the 2014 withdrawal will be a complete departure, which can make Afghanistan a battle ground for the interferences of our neighbors. We cannot afford a cowardly reconciliation with the perception of defeat at the hands of the enemies of this country, the Taliban. Hanif Atmar was saying we must win the war against them. Amrullah Saleh said that the US will reduce its troops to about 20,000 after 2014 withdrawal. He added “we need them”. The Government is pursuing the talks with Taliban, which we strongly believe will end up with nothing, in secret from public. The people of Afghanistan have the right to know what their rulers are playing with their future.New Page 1
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