Michael de Laine

By Michael de Laine, The Copenhagen Voice, 1 July 2009

Afghanistan, extremism and the complex regional situation in South Asia are among the biggest global security challenges today, according to Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are no easy or quick-fix solutions for Afghanistan, which needs a long-term commitment.

Afghanistan, extremism and the complex regional situation in South Asia are among the biggest global security challenges today, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Møller told a meeting of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Security Forum, held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on 25 June 2009.

“It is a challenge we must meet jointly,” he told the meeting’s delegates.

The minister said there is the need for a regional perspective.

“It has become increasingly clear that the security situation in Afghanistan to a high degree depends on its neighbours,” Per Stig Møller said. “Security and development in Afghanistan must be viewed in a regional context.”

The Danish foreign minister said the most obvious risk to the security and stability of Afghanistan springs from the border areas towards Pakistan, which are largely outside the control of both governments.

“It is not a secret that borders are porous at best, and that this has been to the advantage of the insurgents,” he said. “Finding a sustainable solution to this naturally involves increased collaboration with Pakistan.”

Pakistan is also facing great challenges, some of which are interlinked with the situation in Afghanistan, the minister said. But it is important to acknowledge that Pakistan’s problems must be approached in their own right.

“The situation in Pakistan is extremely complex and chaotic,” Per Stig Møller said. “Presently about three million people are displaced. With the government’s recent decision to expand the fighting to also include the stronghold of Pakistani Taliban in Waziristan, this figure is doomed to increase. The importance of a coordinated international response to the humanitarian crisis cannot be underestimated – the cost of insufficient international assistance could be increased radicalization and Taliban exploiting the situation to new recruitment.”

He stressed that if this situation is not handled well, tomorrow’s Taliban will be created today.

“In this context, the group ‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan’ could play a key role as a key forum for coordinating international assistance,” Per Stig Møller said. “‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan’ is a demonstration of the international commitment to support the beleaguered democracy in Pakistan.”

The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs said it is clear that stability and development in Afghanistan are also closely linked to Afghanistan’s other neighbours, not least Iran.

“It is important that the international community engages all of Afghanistan’s neighbours and closest partners in a dialogue and practical cooperation to improve the situation,” he said. “We have an apparent and mutual interest in a stable Afghanistan, which can form the basis for such interaction. If not, Afghanistan can say to its neighbours: ‘Today us, tomorrow you’.

“It is therefore imperative that we find ways to support the development of a stable region. And we need to address cross-boundary and regional issues not only for the sake of Afghanistan, but to improve regional and global security as such.”

Per Stig Møller welcomed NATO’s decision to further develop the alliance’s engagement with all of Afghanistan’s neighbours in support of long-term regional security. Strengthening relations with Pakistan is a particular focus, he noted.

Møller also noted a need to assist the Afghan authorities with building the necessary capacity to deliver good governance. “In the longer run, Afghan institutions must be able to deliver rule of law, health, education, job creation – and security – by themselves and for themselves,” he said. This is because Afghan problems are best solved by Afghans.

All is not ‘doom and gloom’ in Afghanistan, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs said.

In 2001, 900,000 boys went to school; today, more than 7 million children are enrolled, 2.4 million of them are girls. Today, 90% of the population has access to basic health care, compared to an appalling 8% when the Taleban was in power. Women take part in political and economic life, and two women candidates are running for president. There is progress in establishing local development councils, which can drive development projects, and efforts to stimulate the local economies are underway. GNP per capita has risen from 182 USD in 2002 to an estimated 325 USD in 2007.

“But we cannot ignore the fact that daunting challenges remain,” Per Stig Møller said. “Afghanistan is still among the poorest countries in the world, where large numbers of the population do not enjoy the most basic necessities, such as sufficient food and clean water.

“It is a country with a conflict ridden past, reluctant to let go of its hold on Afghan society. Afghanistan is still marred by terrorism, and insecurity continues to pervade the life of many.

“In addition, Afghanistan is struggling with poor governance categorized by a lack of capacity and severe corruption. Afghanistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is also the world’s largest producer of heroin, although more than half of Afghanistan’s provinces are now opium free.”

Even more important is that we unite behind Afghan plans and priorities, otherwise we risk undermining the very national efforts that we are seeking to support, the Danish foreign minister said.

“At the end of the day, development will only be sustainable if it is based on local ownership and rooted in local institutions,” he said. “That is why non-corrupt and democratic governance and governors are so important for building trust in the Afghan state. This is the only – sustainable - way forward.”

There are no easy or quick-fix solutions for Afghanistan; instead, we have to acknowledge the need for long term commitment, Pet Stig Møller said.

The EAPC meeting in Kazakhstan provided “a window of opportunity, which we have to utilize in order to help the Afghans bring their house in order,” the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs said. “If we allow this house to burn down, we know that the neighbouring houses will catch fire. The international community must avoid this by delivering the necessary support. And we must remain committed. A stable Afghanistan and a stable region are in the long term interest of us all. We cannot afford to fail.”

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