The Hindu : 'Situation in Afghanistan better than reported'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

International

International

'Situation in Afghanistan better than reported'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Nov. 27. The situation in Afghanistan is better than reported in the media, "but that's not to say it's fine'', remarked the Special Representative for Donor Assistance, William Taylor Jr who goes on to make the point that a lot of activity — all round — has picked up in the last two months. At a Roundtable discussion on Afghanistan at the Washington Foreign Press Centre, Mr. Taylor argued that while much of the outside attention has been on the status of mega economic reconstruction projects, a lot of movement was indeed taking place in `smaller' projects involving international assistance, and this aspect should not be lost sight of as it contributed to the overall developmental imperatives of that country.

"International assistance has taken a while to get organised and get big projects going'', Mr. Taylor said stressing that part of the reason for this was the time involved in getting such things as designs out of the way.

The Special Representative for Donor Assistance, when asked about the frustrations of the Afghan government functionaries about money not coming in, said that what had to be kept in mind was that a total of $ 5 billions had been pledged, but over a six year period. The commitment of the U. S. was close to $ 300 millions and for one year.

Mr. Taylor in talking about the kind of economic activity now taking off in Afghanistan pointed to the numerous smaller projects that are progressing such as repairs of rural roads, the irrigation system and the hundreds of schools that are now back in business. "Little by little...we are making things better''.

The pick up of economic activity was not merely confined to Kabul but also in places like Mazar-e-Sharif, Mr. Taylor said. But the `activity' on the ground has also to be looked beyond economic and in such areas as governance, security and international assistance moving into the Reconstruction Phase and beginning to show concrete results.

The bottom line was that the international community "has to do the job in Afghanistan right'', Mr. Taylor said. "It is very important(for the international community) to do, complete and stick with the job'', he said.

Major Western and Asian nations are involved in Afghanistan in different ways — Italy, for instance, is in developing the Judiciary and the Rule of Law; Germany with Police; the Japanese over de-mobilisation; the United States training the Afghan Army and Britain involved in the counter-narcotics programme.

One of the critical areas of International Assistance has to do with making sure that it is transparent and accountable.

Mr. Taylor argued that British and American firms were involved in auditing and procurement for the Donor Fund to assure that money is not being "ripped off''.

But some of the implementers of international assistance such as Non Governmental Organisations who have never dealt with the government of Afghanistan in the past are now being asked to work with the government.

One of the focus areas in the next several months will be the development of the constitution, with a thinking that the future document could have portions of the 1964 Constitution that Afghanistan had.

A key aspect would have to be the balance between Sharia and a Secular state even as it is certain that there will be an Islamic component, it was pointed out.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

Weapons inspections commence in Iraq

U.K. to woo Muslim opinion on Iraq

Terrorism: dramatic turn to probe

Kissinger to head panel on Sept. 11 attack

Woman V-C for Cambridge

Cloned baby in January, says doctor

CPJ alarmed by journalists' arrests

Prabakaran ready to consider regional self-rule

'Situation in Afghanistan better than reported'

MQM decides to sit in Opposition