Afghanistan, 2008

Since the last time we

gathered here in this great Hall, we have passed a year

of great hopes and grave fears. We have witnessed the

hope-inspiring glory of human accomplishment at the

Olympic Games in Beijing but shuddered at crumbling

stock and housing markets around the world. We have

a growing global understanding on climate change and

the issues relevant to it, but seen millions of lives

threatened by the shortage of food in many countries

and witnessed with disbelief the brutal slaughter of

innocent people at the hands of terrorists in

Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Algeria and several other

parts of the world.

Since I spoke at this rostrum in the last session of

the General Assembly, my country, Afghanistan, has

grappled with a number of important challenges, none

more troubling than the problem of international

terrorism. Terrorist forces have significantly increased

their attacks and brutality, and enjoyed freedom in their

sanctuaries.

While Afghanistan has borne the brunt of terrorist

violence, the scourge has now spread like a wildfire

across the wider region. In Pakistan, where, until

recently, extremist circles remained mainly focused on

destabilizing Afghanistan, today terrorist violence is

unfortunately also directed within Pakistani territory

and against the Pakistani people.

Daily acts of intimidation and violence against

communities in Afghanistan and Pakistan, in particular

on both sides of the Durand Line, the killing of

political and tribal leaders and the burning of schools

are the upshots of the continued spawning and spread

of terrorism and extremism in the region.

29 08-51749

The callous attack on the Marriot hotel in

Islamabad over the weekend, the bombing of the Indian

Embassy in Kabul and the terrorist attacks in the Indian

cities of Bangalore and Ahmedabad were the most

disturbing demonstration of terrorists’ growing reach.

Undoubtedly, terrorism will not go away until we

dismantle the elaborate institutional support terrorists

enjoy in the region and eliminate their secure

sanctuaries. That will be possible only if we engage in

sincere regional and international cooperation.

The democratic transition in Pakistan, heralded

by the historic elections of last February, has been a

most promising development in our region.

We in Afghanistan have warmly welcomed the

inauguration of the civilian democratic Government. In

particular, I take the opportunity to once again

congratulate my brother, President Asif Ali Zardari, on

his election as the President of Pakistan. I assure my

brothers, President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani,

that Afghanistan stands ready to take several steps for

each single step that Pakistan will take to address the

challenge of radicalism and terrorism.

To the extent that terrorism in our region

continues to be a global threat, evolving in nature and

tactics, the struggle against it must continue unabated.

In this context, I recall with appreciation this year’s

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in

Bucharest, where around 40 countries with existing

military commitments in Afghanistan once again

reiterated their strong resolve to stay the course.

Among the most significant outcomes of the

summit was the emphasis on the Afghanization of the

security sector as a measure to ensure sustainability

and enhanced effectiveness. To that end, I call for a

redoubling of efforts by the international community

aimed at enabling the Afghan national security

institutions, both the army and the police, to take on a

greater share of the war against terrorism and for the

protection of our people.

Above all, Afghanization of military operations is

vital if the problem of civilian casualties is to be

addressed effectively. The continuation of civilian

casualties could seriously undermine the legitimacy of

the fight against terrorism and the credibility of the

Afghan people’s partnership with the international

community.

Whereas the military endeavour at the regional

and international levels remains the primary response

to the threat of terrorism, success will only be possible

if the local population is empowered to confront it.

Therefore, while terrorism and a persistent

environment of insecurity are at work to subvert

Afghanistan’s growth, we must do what it takes to win

the battle of Afghanistan’s economic development.

Last June, my Government launched the

Afghanistan National Development Strategy at the

Afghanistan donors conference in Paris. If the pledges

made at the conference are translated into timely

commitments, I am confident that we will attain the

development goals set out in our Strategy.

On behalf of the people of Afghanistan, I thank

President Nicholas Sarkozy of France for his

leadership in excellently organizing the Paris

conference. I also thank the United States and all the

other countries around the world that pledged

generously towards the implementation of the

Afghanistan National Development Strategy.

As in the security sector, Afghanization of the

development process is the key not just to the goal of

ensuring ownership but also to the effective

implementation of our Development Strategy.

Afghanization of the development process can be

achieved through a meaningful commitment by our

friends and donors to aid effectiveness. In that context,

while urging a shift away from the use of parallel

structures and wasteful mechanisms, I strongly endorse

the role of the United Nations and the special

representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Kai Eide,

in coordinating the international community’s

participation in Afghanistan’s development and State-

building processes.

Thanks to the selfless sacrifices of men and

women of Member States and the determination and

sacrifices of our own people, the journey of

Afghanistan’s reconstruction is resolutely under way.

Today our people are more educated, healthier, better

off and more optimistic about their future. We have

built thousands of new schools and reconstructed many

more, where millions of our youngsters go to school

and prepare for the responsibilities of tomorrow. Our

rapid economic growth, with double-digit growth rates

almost every year, has resulted in higher income and

better living conditions for our people. Our rural

development programmes have improved lives in

08-51749 30

thousands of our villages that had never before seen an

agent of the State among them.

We have also taken a number of legal and

institutional measures to intensify our anti-corruption

efforts, such as establishing the High Office of

Oversight and Anti-Corruption, including special units

in the Office of the Attorney-General and in the

judiciary to oversee efforts aimed at eliminating

corruption through preventive, educational and

enforcement measures. We are committed to ensuring

more concrete results in the coming years.

Also very important, on counter-narcotics, this

year we have registered a 20 per cent decline in total

opium production, while the number of poppy-free

provinces has reached 18, making 50 per cent of the

country virtually poppy-free. The key to sustaining our

success will be ensuring alternative livelihoods for our

farmers, investing to a greater extent in law

enforcement and interdiction and, above all, addressing

the far greater dimensions of the world’s drug trade

that lie outside Afghanistan, such as reduction of

demand in foreign markets and stricter border controls.

Our efforts in counter-narcotics and in other areas

have been complicated by the acute shortage of food

within the country. In collaboration with the United

Nations, we have launched a humanitarian appeal that

we hope will receive a timely response from our

partners in the international community.

The United Nations Charter promises freedom,

justice, a dignified life, security and peace, and it is

incumbent on all of us to work together to ensure that

those promises are kept. Today, there are still too many

corners of the world where conflict and tension are

putting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people

in jeopardy.

We deeply sympathize with our Palestinian

brothers and sisters and their struggle and suffering.

We urge a just and comprehensive settlement that fully

realizes the rights of the Palestinian people, including

their right to an independent State, living in peace, side

by side with the State of Israel.

Today, once again, this Assembly session has

brought us together at a time when our world is poised

between great opportunities and menacing challenges. I

am confident that we will make use of our growing

collective ability as a community of nations to do what

is right for the betterment of our world.