Ahmed Rashid is one of the leading analysts on Afghanistan and Central Asia and the celebrated writer of the book, “Taliban: Islam, Oil and the Great Game in Central Asia”. The Friday Times spoke with him to ascertain his opinion on the current situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Excerpts:
The Friday times: What elements would you identify as crucial to any understanding of Afghanistan and its problems?
Ahmed Rashid: There are three elements in the equation: the international community, including NATO-ISAF troops; the Afghan government; and Pakistan. The international community is responsible for peace-and-security and reconstruction, the Afghan government for curbing corruption and dealing with the menace of drugs, and Pakistan for controlling the Taliban on its side. The crisis is that none of these players is doing their job. NATO countries are not prepared to commit enough troops; there is not enough money for reconstruction; six years after the liberation of Afghanistan, not one new powerhouse has been built. On his part, [President Hamid] Karzai has been ineffective in dealing with the twin issues of corruption and drugs and he has made all the wrong cabinet appointments. |
