Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2009
47 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding Afghanistan; his views on whether the second surge of troops is the correct course of action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46873/09]
View answer77 Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in Afghanistan in view of ongoing tensions in that country; his views on the planned general election there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46855/09]
View answer273 Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding loss of life in Afghanistan; his views on the suggestion that the second surge of troops is the correct course of action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47180/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 77 and 273 together.
The situation in Afghanistan remains difficult and fragile. The security situation has deteriorated further this year, with more casualties among the international forces there since the intervention began in 2001. The Taliban have retaken some areas from which they had previously been driven out. Narcotics production and trafficking remains a serious issue. The Presidential and provincial elections held in August this year were marred by fraud and other irregularities, further undermining public confidence in the central government and its leadership. It will be of key importance that every effort is made to ensure that similar problems are not permitted to undermine the credibility of the Parliamentary Elections due to be held next year.
As indicated in this House on 18 November, it will be essential, if Afghanistan is to achieve stability, security and progress, that President Karzai and his Government begin to play a much stronger and more effective role in the leadership and governance of the country. They must also work harder to build the capacity of the Afghan people, so that they can take full responsibility for their country's security and for its reconstruction and development. They must more effectively lead reconstruction and development efforts to ensure that the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Afghans — women as well as men — are improved in a concrete manner. The international community has pledged to support Afghanistan in its efforts to achieve stability, security and prosperity and the EU is at the forefront of these efforts. The EU is currently spending close to €1 billion a year on various civilian, political and developmental activities. We ourselves have allocated almost €22 million in relief, recovery and development assistance to Afghanistan since 2005.
The European Council last week reiterated the EU's commitment to Afghanistan, endorsing the recently adopted EU Plan of Action, and confirming the EU's willingness to support President Karzai in the implementation of the commitments he set out in his inauguration speech: on security, governance and anti-corruption; economic development including agriculture, peace and reconciliation; and on regional cooperation. The Council underlined the need to maintain a comprehensive approach to the challenges in Afghanistan, building on a combination of political, civilian/development and military instruments.
The European Council also welcomed the recent announcement by President Obama of a reinforced engagement by the United States in relation to Afghanistan and Pakistan. President Obama's new strategy involves both military and civilian dimensions. He announced that 30,000 additional US troops will be deployed in early 2010, to which a number of NATO and ISAF partners have agreed to add around 7,000 more troops. The aim is to achieve significant results in improving the security situation, and to train Afghan troops to take over the protection of their own country, so that it will be possible for international troop numbers to be decreased from around mid-2011. The military strategy also involves the training of the Afghan security forces so that they can take over full responsibility for the country's security. President Obama also promised to work with the international community, the United Nations, and the Afghan people to pursue a more effective civilian strategy, so that the Afghan government can take advantage of the improved security situation; to support efforts by the Afghan government aimed at encouraging Taliban members to renounce violence and join the political and social mainstream; and to increase co-operation with Pakistan to tackle the Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership on their side of the border.
At their meeting on 4 December, Foreign Ministers from countries contributing to ISAF emphasised that the priorities of the ISAF operation were the protection of the Afghan people, building Afghan security capacity and facilitating governance and development. While I am not in a position to judge the military reasoning behind the decision taken by President Obama to deploy additional US military in Afghanistan, I very much hope that this action, together with a renewed civilian engagement, will contribute to the achievement of the ISAF objectives. To do nothing, or to ignore the realities of the security situation, are not viable or desirable options, in terms of the security of Afghanistan, or that of the international community. The international community will have an opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan with the Afghan Government at the International Conference on Afghanistan, which will be held in London on 28 January and which I will be attending.
