Karzai: Afghanistan Needs Foreign Stabilization Force "For as Long as Necessary"

Since assuming the leadership of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamid Karzai has scrambled to keep the country's reconstruction aspirations on track. Given a dire shortage of funds and a devastated infrastructure, the interim government has been hard pressed to provide basic services. Karzai has also had to contend with warlords who are reluctant to cede authority to a centralized administration.

The interim government is now preparing the ground for the convocation of a Loya Jirga, or grand tribal council, which will pave the way for the formation of a permanent government in Afghanistan. The Loya Jirga process began February 7, when an organizing commission held its first session. The Loya Jirga is scheduled to convene in June.

Karzai has spent a considerable amount of time seeking international assistance for Afghan stabilization. On February 8, he is scheduled to travel to Pakistan for talks with Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf. Karzai is expected to focus on securing Pakistani support for reconstruction and security initiatives. Prior to the start of the campaign against terrorism, Pakistan had been closely aligned the radical Islamic Taliban movement.

In late January, Karzai visited Washington for talks with US President George W. Bush and congressional leaders. He also attended the World Economic Forum, an annual gathering of prominent economic and political leaders, held in early February in New York.

In the United States, Karzai talked about boosting the size of an international stabilization force in Afghanistan, an issue that has emerged as one of his top priorities. At the New York economic gathering, Afghan interim government officials have endorsed a fourfold increase in the force, to 20,000 soldiers. But details on this increase and its logistics are far from clear. Karzai ended up returning to Afghanistan with pledges of about $350 million in American aid and promises of American training and logistical support, but no commitment to expand the stabilization force.

While in the United States, Karzai spoke to EurasiaNet contributor Camelia Entekhabi-Fard about the challenges facing Afghanistan as it strives to recover from 22 years of internecine violence. The text of his comments follow:

EurasiaNet: How many years do you think foreign peacekeeping forces will have to stay in Afghanistan?
Karzai: I can't say in years or months. We need them as long as it is necessary. If peace is achieved in 5 months, then that is how long we are going to need them for. If peace, a peace that is durable and lasting, returns in a few years then that's how long we are going to need them.