New Afghanistan Strategy Discussed at International Conference in The Hague

Posted by Christine Welter Apr 1, 2009

More than 85 nations, international organizations and non-profit observers met in the Netherlands this week to secure political support to stabilize Afghanistan. Participants stressed the need to fight corruption in the country and hold free presidential elections this coming August.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced the new strategy which calls for more U.S. troops to go after the Taliban and Al Qaeda but also to help the Afghan government build up its army and police force.

Most speakers at the meeting applauded US President Barack Obama's plan to win over defectors from the Taliban insurgency,since a majority of the fighters are motivated by desperation, not ideology. The idea of approaching former Taliban members has been unthinkable under the Bush administration.

The Afghan government seems enthusiastic about the new approach. Presidential spokesperson Humayun Hamidzada declared it "probably the most significant outcome" of the conference.

One of the goals of the meeting was to bring in the countries directly neighboring Afghanistan. Iran also participated and Washington's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, had an informal meeting with the Iranian delegate, Mohammad Mehdi Akhundzadeh. Akhundzadeh publicly pledged Iran's co-operation in counter-narcotics and development efforts in Afghanistan.

Clinton said: "I did think the Iranian intervention this morning was promising. The issue of counter-narcotics is a worry that we share. We will look for ways to co-operate with them on that."

Observers commented positively on the tentative beginnings of a new relationship between Iran and the U.S. Obama's policy on Iran emphasizes the search for common ground.

Sources:

France Radio International's Report on the Afghanistan Conference

Iran's offer of help to rebuild Afghanistan heralds new age of diplomacy with the US