Last week, President Hamid Karzai announced dissolution of private security firms from Afghanistan by December 2010. Continued antagonistic and confrontational moves in the recent past by Karzai would derail the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. United States must address Karzai's genuine concerns in order to get him aboard for the success of prevailing strategy in Afghanistan.
Disbanding private security contractors by an ambitious deadline of four months have created concerns in foreign militaries and aid organization operating in Afghanistan. Foreign troops and aid organizations depend on these private firms to ensure their incessant supply of fuel, ammunition, and other crucial supplies to their bases in Afghanistan. Reliance on these contractors has further increased with the arrival of additional U.S. troops. Fifty-three licensed along with several unlicensed security firms that employ approximately 260000 people are providing services to the U.S. and its allies. Karzai plans to accommodate these trained individuals in Afghanistan Army and police. However, at present security forces of Afghanistan do not have the capacity to guarantee secure supply line for foreign forces in the country. This decision will have drastic consequences and adversely impinge on the performance of foreign forces committed in war on terror.
Surviving his second term despite failed efforts of the west to find his substitute has considerably changed Karzai's personality. Since his re-election, Karzai has repeatedly declared himself independent of the US and other "foreigners," and even stated that he "would no longer be a puppet of the United States." Karzai, a former consultant for UNOCAL Company was installed by the U.S. as the President of Afghanistan after fall of Taliban. Recently, Karzai had been denouncing his Washington puppeteer who has criticized incompetence of his regime, "They wanted to have a puppet and a servant government." Karzai got infuriated when the west tried to replace him with Abdullah Abdullah. Karzai made sure that Mr. Abdullah is denied of any place in his new government. Karzai knew that he would continue to enjoy strong support from within the major non-Pashtun groups as long as his partnership with erstwhile mujahedeen leaders Mohammed Fahim, Karim Khalili, Ismail Khan, Rashid Dostum and Mohammed Mohaqiq remains intact. In his second term he came out much stronger than before and he expects to be treated accordingly.
To lessen western influence on his government and bring them to his terms, Karzai is exploring potential regional partners. Recent trilateral summit of the presidents of three Persian-speaking countries of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan in Tehran indicates Karzai's regional motives. With innumerable cultural, religious, social, and strategic commonalities, the three countries share has demonstrated their potentiality to build a strongest diplomatic partnership in the region. People of Afghanistan, whose country was part of the Greater Persia in ancient times, believe that the Iranian nation is the inheritor of their paternal legacy, the Persian civilization. Increased diplomatic ties and likely role of Iran in Afghanistan would complicate the issue for United States. Karzai also sought Russian help for his nation; two decades after Moscow ended a disastrous conflict."Afghanistan will need the support of friends and from great countries like Russia," Karzai told Dmitry Medvedev during his recent visit to Russia.
President Karzai's intimidating actions against United Sates are aimed to restore his lost credibility and win over Afghan population. Recent announcement by Karzai that has called for an investigation into a US-backed anti-corruption taskforce following the arrest of several senior Afghan officials on graft charges speaks of his hostile intentions. The Crimes Task Force, in which United States and British officers oversee the work of Afghan officials, was set up with Karzai's approval, last year. It played a key role in the arrest of Mohammad Zia Saleh, an official in the office of the National Security Adviser that triggered Karzai's calling on to investigate the taskforce. Afghan government is alleging that the task force was involved in various unconstitutional activities. Karzai intends to bring taskforce under Afghan government and to establish a clear and favorable legal basis for how corruption cases will be investigated thus providing protection to his inner circle.
Continuation of confrontational policies by Karzai against United States would have detrimental impact on war in Afghanistan. United Sates diplomats and military commanders would be entangled in a difficult position. They can only pursue their strategy in Afghanistan at the cost of potentially damaging relations with Mr. Karzai. President Karzai is a very crucial player in success of Afghan strategy. To succeed in Afghanistan, U.S. should work together with the President of Afghanistan. Concerted efforts be made to effectively engage President Karzai by addressing his genuine concerns in order to earn his vital support for ongoing war against Taliban but not at the cost of disrupting current strategy in Afghanistan.
About this Author
Mural Khan remained a spokesperson of Pakistan Army. He remained a permanent member of various international committees committed in global war on terror in Afghanistan. To his credit, he has more than seven years of experience working in Afghanistan along international troops. Currently, he is a graduate student at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Besides working with a firm as a consultant and subject matter expert on issues related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and global war on terror in that part of the world, he appears on various electronic channels as political and security analyst on these issues.
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