In December 2010, the U.S. government will evaluate progress made toward the primary objectives President Barack Obama laid out last December in his speech at West Point: reverse the momentum of the Taliban insurgency, enhance the capacity of the Afghan government and partner with Pakistan. The outcome of this assessment, as well as independent reports, will set the tone for debates across the U.S. and Europe, and Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the region about what should happen in July 2011, when President Obama said that the U.S. will begin withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
Each of these three critical objectives is strongly dependent upon the performance and legitimacy of the Afghan government. … Thus the Afghan government must simultaneously improve governance (and perceptions of its governance), enhance the performance of its security forces and its delivery of public services, and convince the U.S., NATO, Pakistan, and other regional actors that it is a credible, stable, and enduring partner. This is no easy feat. …
Starting with President Karzai’s visit to Washington in May, the Afghans have an enormous—and indispensable—opportunity this year to make progress towards stability and sovereignty. It will be essential, however, to set realistic and achievable benchmarks to measure that progress. There are already a series of events scheduled to build momentum. … President Karzai has called for a national Peace Jirga in late May to bring together community leaders from across the country to discuss his government’s plans for reconciliation with insurgents and their reintegration into Afghanistan’s economic, social and political landscape. Then in July, the world will converge in Afghanistan’s capital for the Kabul Conference. … The prospect of parliamentary elections also looms for the fall. …
For its security, the international community needs a stable and responsible Afghanistan; for its development, the government of Afghanistan needs the international community. The next seven months are a time to recommit to, and build confidence in, each other. The government of Afghanistan has a four-step opportunity to succeed —or fail. We all have a stake in its success. Access the full brief>>
