SECURITY
Background
The danger we face threatens human civilization and recognizes no geographic boundaries and can't be overcome by any single nation, however powerful. It needs a strategic global response and a concerted and coordinated effort by the community of nations to successfully defend our collective freedom.
As far as the role of Afghanistan in this international effort is concerned, the focus of all civil and military plans must be the Afghan people and their belief in the support of the government. The Government's support and legitimacy will increase only if we can assure the security of the people and provide them with basic needs like food, shelter, water, healthcare and the means of living.
President Karzai's inaugural speech clearly outlined the goals to be achieved and priorities to be followed and provides a vision for the future security and stability of Afghanistan.
Defending our country and providing security for our nation is the duty of all Afghans…. Based on the state monopoly of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan over the defense and security forces of our country, and other imperatives of national sovereignty, we want to organize and improve the national army and our other security forces in quantitative and qualitative terms, in consonance with the defensive needs of Afghanistan.
We are at a critical point in our endeavor. The lack of enough forces has made it impossible to protect the people through the presence of security forces at the local level. This frustrated
Afghans who wanted to side with the Afghan Government, but could not risk doing so without protection. But this is now changing. In this past year the number of enemy attacks was up, as was the employment of Improvised Explosive Devices. However, some increase was due to the introduction of Afghan and ISAF forces into areas that we had not operated in previously, as well as a higher tempo of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and ISAF operations.
As was expected, enemy activity peaked during the election. However, the ANSF and ISAF were successful in securing the election process. Since the election, activity levels have been significant, particularly in the South and East. While our conventional forces are currently shifting focus to protecting the population, our special operations forces continue to conduct effective “surgical” operations in order to keep the enemy off balance.
Despite our recent successes, the enemy remains a capable foe. They are developing new tactics and techniques, particularly in the use of IEDs and suicide bombers. We are also seeing more foreign fighters in more provinces.
The ANSF continues to grow and develop beyond expectations. In December 2009 the ANA stood at 100,131 personnel and the ANP at 94,958. This progress will ensure we achieve the ambitious plan of having 134,000 ANA and 109,000 ANP in October 2010 and 171,600 ANA and 134,000 ANP by October 2011.
Government Commitments During the next 18 months we need to focus all of our efforts on improving the capacity and capability of the ANSF and creating the right conditions through securing the population for governance, law enforcement, and economic development to flourish. We will develop a National Security Policy that lays down the key roles and responsibilities of the security Ministries and other key requirements and a National Security Strategy with a long-term vision for securing Afghanistan. We will strive within the next three years to lead and conduct the majority of military operations in the insecure areas of our country and take responsibility for physical security within five years. We will spare no efforts and sacrifices to take responsibility for the physical security of our country within five years, provided that the international community furnishes the ANSF with its own enabler capabilities. The international forces will then concentrate their effort on a mentoring and supporting role. Through better leadership, improving the quality of life and taking care of soldiers, police officers and their families, the ANSF will provide the additional necessary recruits and leadership, improve retention, reduce attrition to facilitate an accelerated growth, and take all necessary means to further improve professionalism, skills, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, and discipline. The professionalism of the ANSF will be enhanced by focusing training efforts on leader development within the ranks of both the ANA and the ANP. The ANSF must grow to 172,000 ANA and 134,000 ANP by Oct 2011. We are well on the way to achieving 134,000 ahead of schedule (end October 2010). While the 134,00 force is a step in the right direction, it is clearly insufficient for securing the population and winning the fight. Therefore, additional growth is required to build a 400,000 strong security force structure, with the ANA providing 240,000 soldiers and the police growing from 96,800 to 160,000 in order to make the ANSF self- reliant in the next 3-5 years. Therefore: - By Oct 2010 the ANA will be grown to 134,000, the ANP to 109,000. - By Oct 2011 the ANA will grow to 171,600, the ANP to 134,000.
We will work with ISAF and the International Community to improve public awareness of what the Government and International Community are doing, as well as the sacrifices the ANSF and ISAF are making to ensure Afghanistan's people have a secure future. We must work closely with ISAF forces to “clear and hold” key population centers. This will require the proper mix of ANP and ANA working closely with ISAF forces. Therefore: We must partner closely with each other to achieve the right effects while simultaneously improving the quality, strength, and confidence of our security forces. The Army will initially assist the police in holding population centers so that the right conditions are created for civil activities to improve. The increased numbers of ANSF will make the presence of security forces possible at the local level. As a result, a secure environment will provide for the proper implementation of the rule of law, effective governance, economic development, delivery of services, the building of infrastructure, and improve the legitimacy and influence of the Afghan Government. The ANSF should increasingly prepare for the day when it will take over responsibility for security. Therefore:
There will be fully integrated security coordination at Region, Province and District level. The ANSF will further improve intelligence sharing, integration of planning, and operational cohesiveness and coordination with concerned Afghan entities. The ANA will develop systems (in particular logistics and personnel management) to ensure that it and other GoIRA agencies continue to build capabilities and capacity, improving their care of the Afghan people, despite insurgent actions. The ANSF will implement measures to ensure accountability of weapons and equipment. The GoIRA, in partnership with ISAF, will keep the security situation under review. Together, we will develop a plan for “Transition”. Once we, and COMISAF, are confident the ANSF has the capabilities and capacity to provide security and stability in a given area, the decision will be taken for ISAF to move into a supporting role. This judgment will be based on an assessment of the following three main criteria: The presence of sufficient and capable ANA and ANP in a particular area. The security condition in the area and that the trend shows security improvement. That there is improving rule of law, governance, economic development and proper infrastructure.
To acquire the proper conditions for Transition:
We will strive to transform the police to be the trusted guardians of Afghan society. The Ministry of Interior will focus on the elimination of corruption by enforcement through the established Major Crimes Task Force, in conjunction with other international entities, and will investigate allegations of corruption at the highest levels within the Afghan Government. We will also concentrate on prevention through enhanced and specialized training and public awareness campaigns. We will improve our capabilities to counter Afghan-specific threats throughout all police functions. We will achieve this by: Eliminating corruption through an anti-corruption strategy that addresses capacity building, prevention and enforcement. Reforming and growing the ANP with enhanced leadership at all ranks and selecting personnel for promotion based on ability, experience and performance. We will Afghanize and accelerate Focused District Development (FDD), Focused Border Development and other training and development programs to improve our capability and create an Afghan Gendarmerie Force able to conduct operations in cooperation with the ANA. Afghan Police Mentoring Teams will be created to ensure the completion of the FDD program in low-threat provinces. This will require growth in the ANPTashkeel. We will improve morale and quality of life of ANP personnel. With the help of the International Community we will explore social benefit programs for ANSF such as a housing program. We will improve the quality of our police services by focusing on community Police and traditional police missions by training and equipping them to prevent and detect crime ensure public safety, civil order, property protection and traffic control. We will increase public confidence in the police by increasing the capability to respond promptly and fairly to the public request for security, assistance, or administrative service and by training the police to respect human rights, individual legal rights and to behave properly with the citizens. We will continue to recruit and create opportunities for women in the police force. We will also introduce an impartial system that can provide oversight to police accountability and public concerns. We will introduce a Public Guard Force that will operate at the district level to protect infrastructure, facilities and construction projects. The Public Guard Force will gradually replace Private Security Companies in the future.
Key Requirements for Success
In order to restore peace and harmony in Afghanistan as well as in the region the campaign needs the following fundamental elements: All detention operations should be carried out by the ANSF and with the full knowledge and agreement of the concerned Afghan authorities. Moreover, the transfer of detention facilities to Afghan authorities is required to demonstrate the sovereignty of the Afghan Government. We will require further assistance, training and resources to achieve this.
More must be done to counter the enemy's propaganda, information and misinformation campaign and its ability to influence local and international media. We must work to increase public awareness of the Government and International Community's progress and achievements in Afghanistan. We will work with ISAF and the International Community to improve public awareness of what the Government and International Community are doing.
Sealing and securing the border with the proper deployment of forces, supplemented by local security arrangements, will disrupt the enemy's capability to infiltrate and infiltrate and will have immense positive impact on the security situation in Afghanistan. We need support in: creating better border cooperation, improving the effectiveness of existing coordination measures, making them more functional, and increasing Pakistan military operations in the FATA will be required to be coordinated with ISAF and ANSF.
The only sustainable way to provide security in Afghanistan is to enable Afghans to defend themselves. However, one of the major obstacles to the ability of the ANSF, particularly the ANA, to conduct independent operations is that we are currently building a light infantry-centric army (the 134,000 force) which contains significant capability gaps that will need to be provided to reach self-sufficiency. These capability gaps include: counter-IED; protected mobility with integrated firepower (mortars and artillery); air transportation; air reconnaissance; air support of ground forces; and, in the absence of ISAF forces, air interception capability to secure our airspace. The sooner these capabilities are fielded, the quicker the ANSF will be able to relieve coalition forces from the brunt of the fighting.
In order to build a capable force of 400,000 (240,000 ANA and 160,000 ANP), the long lead times for infrastructure, equipment acquisition and leadership development need to be taken into account and decisions implemented as early as possible.
We would like NATO to contribute forces to train, mentor and partner ANSF; in all provinces there will be more ANP and ANA forces available due to the continuous growth of the ANSF, this requires more NATO forces to take up the role of trainers, mentors and to take up partner relationships with the new Afghan forces.
Intelligence drives operations. Effective operations are shaped by timely, specific and reliable intelligence gathered and analyzed at the lowest level possible and disseminated throughout the force. The Afghan intelligence agencies' (NDS, MOI and MOD) qualitative and quantitative improvement and expansion both in technical and human intelligence is needed to deal more effectively with the situation.
We urgently need help in expanding our training capacity. Afghanistan has more than enough potential warriors, what we need are the trainers that can turn these warriors into capable, disciplined, and skillful soldiers to secure their population. We also need help and assistance in developing the capacity of our security institutions.
As the ANSF continues to grow we need continued schooling abroad for our security force leaders (ANA, ANP and NDS) - officers and NCOs. They must be educated in the professional institutions abroad so that they can serve as a seed in our security forces, spreading their experiences and knowledge to improve our capacity to secure our country.
We would like to increase our relationship with EUPOL in order to improve our capability in specialized police skills. Such skills would include laboratory, police intelligence, and other, highly specialized police functions.
We need assistance from our European allies in adjusting their caveats to allow support to ANSF, without regards to Afghan provincial borders, to give GoIRA and COMISAF the operational flexibility to employ ANSF with their NATO OMLTs and POMLTs and their NATO partnership units where ever conditions require.
We have seen a direct correlation between narcotics and security. When Government control is present, narcotics disappear. Our counter-narcotics campaign needs to continue to become more effective and more unified and comprehensive solutions adopted and implemented, including an alternative livelihoods program. The ANSF will improve and expand its interdiction operations.
All non-military forces employed directly by international forces that are not part of the ANSF should only be used for the protection of bases, not for any other type of operation, including Afghan protective forces and Private Security Companies. The most important concern for us is the long-term sustainability of the ANSF once it reaches the approved ceiling, and particularly after the draw down of international forces. It is crystal- clear that the Afghan economy will not be able to financially sustain the ANSF. Afghanistan will increasingly assume a larger share as its economy grows. However,
There will be a need for the international community to assist, at least until the Afghan economy can afford to fund the ANSF, if we are determined to preserve the achievements which have cost so much in blood and treasure.
The end-state of growth (a force of 400,000) is that ANSF should have the capability to be able to defend the country and its airspace against both internal and external threats and be able to contribute to maintaining regional security and stability, as well as to safeguard and preserve the achievements which cost both Afghanistan and the International Community so much in blood and treasure.
Donor commitments
The international community is already embarking on a new path in Afghanistan. In the last six months of 2009, and more intensely since President Obama's announcement in December,
NATO and other nations have worked together to focus and coordinate their efforts on Afghanistan.
The stakes are high. Failure could result in Afghanistan becoming a failed state or terrorist base, as well as a source of regional and global instability. Our efforts, therefore, require a firm political will and substantial patience on the part of the Afghan people and the countries providing support.
The International Community needs to present a clear and unified message to the Afghan people and our enemies that it will support Afghanistan until we achieve victory, and that this support (in other forms) will continue beyond the victory. Any wavering of resolve or suggestion of an exit strategy or deadline for withdrawal would be a strategic mistake, and could have catastrophic consequences for all of us. The Afghan people need to be certain that the International Community will not abandon them again, In the complex struggle in which we are jointly engaged the support welfare and protection of the people are vital to success. The international community's efforts should be concentrated on strengthening the role and efficiency of the Afghan Government and helping to expand its influence and improve its legitimacy, In particular we need the International Community to commit to all our deman which is a necessity for the success of our joint mission. Maintain progress in the conduct of the mission, particularly on the reduction of civilian casualties to the minimum possible, to use Afghan forces for house searches and detention operations; and transfer detention facilities to the Afghan Government, Grow the ANSF to a 400,000 strong security force structure, with the ANA providing 240,000 soldiers and the police 160,000, in order to make the ANSF self-reliant in the next 3-5 years and to gradually relieves the ISAF forces, The International Community should support and provide the ANSF and Afghan Government with all the elements it requires for successful Transition. And aim to facilitate the conditions that will permit the “Transition” of Provinces as early as possible, Afghanistan will increasingly assume a larger share of the cost of the ANSF as its economic grows. The proposed growth plan is viable and necessary, but will generate wage, pension and other costs that the Afghan Government cannot fund. There is therefore a need for a commitment by the International Community to assist in the sustainment of the ANSF for the foreseeable future, ie until the Afghan economy can afford this expenditure, factoring in the Government's other budgetary obligations, Fill the ANSF's significant capability gaps, which is a requirement for it to be able to conduct independent operations and achieve self-sufficiency. These capability gaps include: For the ANA - counter-IED; protected mobility with integrated firepower (mortars and artillery); air transportation; air reconnaissance; air support of ground forces; and, in the absence of ISAF forces, air interception capability and air domain awareness capability to secure our airspace. For the ANP - medevac, air surveillance and air transport, Assist in the qualitative and quantitative improvement of the Afghan intelligence agencies (MOI, NDS and MOD) both in technical and human capacity, Provide the required trainers for both the ANA and ANP to assist in the accelerated growth and turn recruits into capable, disciplined and skillful soldiers. And provide vacancies for training abroad, Provide the necessary resources for a successful Afghan led national reconciliation and reintegration program, Fulfill all the ANP's requirements as mentioned in the Demands and Expectations section, including enablers for the ANP such as Counter-IED and Explosive Ordnance Disposal capabilities,
Help in developing a joint well-organized strategic communication campaign to counter the enemy's propaganda and raise the awareness of the public, both nationally and internationally, Support the National Drugs Control Strategy and a comprehensive counter-narcotics strategy with a well resourced alternative livelihood program. The ANSF will improve and expand its interdiction operations. Enable the MOI to gradually take over the security missions now provided by Private Security Companies, and The long lead times for infrastructure, equipment acquisition and leadership development need to be taken into account and decisions implemented as early as possible to facilitate the accelerated growth of the ANSF.
We do not wish to be a burden on the international community more than is required or necessitated. We are profoundly grateful and deeply appreciative of all the help and assistance extended to us. We highly value the International Community's generosity and fully acknowledge their sacrifices. The debt of gratitude we owe your soldiers and citizens can never be fully repaid. No one should doubt the firm determination of the Afghan people to succeed. Together we will ensure the inevitability of our final victory.
The campaign in Afghanistan is winnable, but only if Afghans are enabled to defend their homeland against all internal and external threats. The final solution must be an Afghan one.
THE AFGHANISTAN PEACE AND REINTEGRATION PROGRAM
Summary Program outline
Background
For thirty years, Afghanistan has been plagued by war and instability. Since the fall of the
Taliban, the GoIRA, along with its International Coalition military partners have fought to stabilize and consolidate the authority of the central government across the country. The spread of violence, especially in the South, South East and in Eastern region along the tribal belt remains a major challenge in the stabilization strategy. There have been some successes but there are still vast areas where the ongoing cross-border terrorist/insurgency, networks of
Illegal armed groups, criminals and drug mafia have been an impediment to good governance as well as social and economic development.
While Afghan and International military operations are vital to creating a secure environment for governance and economic development, the experience of the past few years also suggests the need to develop a comprehensive strategy to engage Afghans of all backgrounds and perspectives in dialogue. The government, reaches its hand out to the Taliban and other insurgent groups to offer them a dignified and respectful way to renounce violence, to peacefully reintegrate into their communities and to separate themselves from their past. UN, NATO, and the international community partners now support this initiative.
Aim
The aim of the Peace and Reintegration Program is to promote peace through a political approach. It will encourage Taliban fighters and leaders, previously siding with armed opposition and extremist groups, to renounce violence and join a constructive process of reintegration to benefit from a chance at peace and sustained governance and economic development.
The program will be in-line with His Excellency President Hamid Karzai's vision for his second term in office as outlined in his second inauguration speech.
Concept and Fundamentals for Success
The Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program will be conducted in an Afghan fashion, designed and implemented under Afghan leadership, in accordance with Afghan laws and cultural norms. Drawing on the strengths of previous Afghan peace and disarmament programs, this new program will be overseen from Kabul, but provincial, district, and community leadership will be critical to success. The program is open to all Afghans, nationwide, regardless of race, tribe, social origin, or religion. Seeking the sage advice and consensus of prominent Afghan community and religious leaders from across the ethnic and tribal spectrum will develop it.
Responsibility for successful reintegration, under the leadership of the Afghan Government, rests with both the communities and ex-insurgents themselves. Eligible communities are those willing to embrace their disenchanted compatriots, and along with the Afghan Government, supervise the progress of these reintegration volunteers. The dignity and honor of former combatants will be maintained, and they will be assisted while developing and enhancing skills through education and vocational programs.
Individuals seeking to reintegrate will be required to do the following: renounce violence; cease support for the insurgency; participate in the free and open society that is enshrined in the Afghan Constitution; and cut all current and future ties with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Volunteers entering the reintegration program will be accorded protection and security as long as they keep their commitments and remain loyal Afghans.
The Peace and Reintegration efforts could be broadly split into two broad categories:
a) Peace and Reintegration at tactical and operational level: There are various layers that need to be reintegrated. Different layers will require different packages and approaches to meet their needs successfully. At the tactical level the reintegration effort focuses on foot soldiers, group, and local leaders who form the bulk of the insurgency, and;
b) Strategic reconciliation level: Efforts at the Strategic level focus on the leadership. This is a complex and highly sensitive issue that needs a broad approach. The package for these levels may include: addressing the problem of sanctuaries, measures for outreach and removal from the UN sanction list, ensuring the severance of links with Al-Qaida, securing political accommodation, or potential exile in a third country.
Key Principles
Afghan ownership. Peace and Reconciliation to be promoted with unity of efforts and from a position of principle that should be further strengthened by the collective efforts of the Afghan overnment and its international partners. Provincial Governors. Project strategic leadership, government, and the international community will support the key leaders at the provincial level. Avoid deals that undermine territorial integrity, the Afghanistan constitution and create more space for the operation of terrorist groups. Renunciation of violence by participating groups leading to disarmament with guarantees for their protection and security. The financial cost of reintegration will be substantial and will be dependent upon donor financial support for an extended period, through a new trust fund agreed for this purpose.
Key Components
The Peace and Reintegration Program will address the following issues:
Addressing sanctuaries and reaching out to the leadership of anti-government forces. Assisting individuals, groups, and communities. Coordination from the district through national levels on protection, immediate assistance to reintegrees and reconciles, as well as amnesty. Disarmament and weapons management. Mid to long term development initiatives in support of durable security and stability (Peace dividend for communities). Monitoring and de-radicalization of former anti-government forces.
Program Phases
Although bringing back ex-fighters and leaders at both low and high levels is crucial to the aggregate success of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program, a major breakthrough at the higher level might take some time. However, strategic level and operational-tactical level initiatives will be begun simultaneously to achieve robust reconciliation and reintegration.
Program implementation is slated to take place in three phases: short, medium and long term efforts:
1. The first phase will concentrate on tactical level peace and reintegration initiatives while making attempts to reach out at the political level to open the door for engagement to build trust and confidence,
2. The second phase will be the main phase and the focus will be on both political and tactical/operational levels, and
3. The third phase will concentrate on consolidating peace and reintegration while evaluating the program and focusing on issues that are not addressed or still need attention in order to make reintegration sustainable and irreversible.
Government Commitments
Develop a detail program document to be presented at Kabul Conference for financial support. Provide leadership and build consensus through a grand Peace Jirga that is plan to be held after the London Conference. Integrate existing structure into a unified and effective organization for effective leadership, coordination and implementation of the program.
Donor Commitments
Support the program through their collective efforts. Provide technical, financial political and diplomatic support for successful implementation of the program. Respect the Afghan leadership and avoid duplication. Provide ongoing financial support through the agreed reintegration trust fund.
Security
All civil and military plans must focus on winning the support of the Afghan people and building their belief in Government. The Government's support and legitimacy will increase only if we can assure the security of the people and fulfill their basic needs with food, shelter, water, healthcare and the means of living. The first responsibility of the Government is to ensure rule of law and the security of its people. After years of training and investment supported by the international community, the Afghan defence forces are taking the lead in security in Afghanistan. Today more than 60% of military missions are undertaken with Afghan leadership, with the support of the international community.
There are substantial challenges ahead for Afghanistan and its international military partners.
We recommit ourselves to stronger professional self-defense forces that all Afghans can take pride in and that can assume overall responsibility for Afghan security at the earliest possible date. This will require the numbers of ANSF to increase to 171,600 ANA and 134,000 ANP by October 2011. Afghanistan, like any sovereign state with rule of law, must reacquire a monopoly on the on the use of force within its territory. The arrest, search or detention of
Afghans must be done by Afghans to be legitimate in the eyes of Afghans. As victory will no be achieved on the battlefield alone, but in the hearts and minds of our citizens, no effort can be spared to eliminate the civilian casualties that strengthen the enemy and rally support for their case.
Peace and Re-integration
While Afghan and International military operations are vital to creating a secure environment for good governance and economic development, an enduring peace in Afghanistan will only be achieved when the fighters and commanders who make up the armed opposition are successfully reintegrated into their communities. The Government will provide the Taliban and other insurgent groups who wish to respect the constitution a dignified way to renounce violence and peacefully reintegrate into their communities. The rank and file Taliban are not Al- Qaeda, they are our neighbours and cousins, and to achieve peace we need only remove their reason to fight.
Reintegration will need to take place at two levels; first it must provide opportunities and incentives for the foot soldiers and local commanders of the Taliban to rejoin their communities and second there must be strategic reconciliation with leaders of the Taliban movement. These initiatives will be developed and undertaken with Afghan leadership and donor support. They will embrace key principles including the provision of amnesty to those who disarm, renounce violence and embrace the Afghan constitution. A critical step in the initiative will be a Grand Peace Jirga where all elements of Afghan society can be consulted and included in the path to lasting peace. The GoIRA commits itself to presenting a full implementation plan for support to donors in Kabul in the spring. Agreement has been reached with donors on an Afghan led, multi-donor trust fund for the purpose of funding this initiative.
Economic Development
Economic development and the creation of jobs are a precondition for enduring peace in
Afghanistan. It is only by developing a strong economy that Afghanistan will achieve fiscal independence. The Government proposes to align related Ministries to form clusters to lead in the area of Agricultural and Rural Development, Human Resource Development and Infrastructure and Economic Development. These clusters, under proven, capable ministerial leadership will be tasked to prioritize the implementation of the Afghan National Development Strategy to achieve job creation and economic growth. Existing national programs capable of meeting this objective will be strengthened, and where gaps exist, new national programs will be developed for presentation at the spring Kabul Conference.
To create a supportive environment for growth and ensure the effective use of resources the
Government will commit itself to a broad program of structural reforms. To better enable government to implement this aggressive and critical agenda it will undertake two major initiatives. The Civilian Technical Assistance Plan will be used to provide regional advisors to build Afghan capacity to implement programming, and a series of improvements to supporting services will be undertaken to streamline program implementation. The government commits itself to the presentation of a comprehensive plan at the Kabul conference in spring. It calls upon donors to support these clusters through collaboration at a technical level and financial support for the identified priority programs.
Regional Cooperation
Regional problems require regional solutions. The GoIRA is committed to working with our neighbors to improve regional security and facilitate trade. All countries in the region will benefit from this increased cooperation.
Improved regional security will require coordinated actions to increase intelligence sharing, collaboration between border security forces to combat narcotics trafficking and organized crime, and joint strategies to eliminate the ability of insurgents to operate freely along our undefended frontier. The elimination of cross-border sanctuaries must be a high priority for all. Lasting peace will require renewed efforts to repatriate displaced peoples, while facilitating the free movement of labor.
The creation of regional infrastructure for energy, transportation and water management are critical to sustained economic growth for all parties. Of particular importance to all will be the emergence of Afghanistan as a viable trade and transit corridor, allowing the free flow of goods between our neighbors. We will continue to work multilaterally and through regional associations to achieve this aim. In particular, we request the assistance of the Government of Pakistan and all donors to successfully conclude the Afghan-Pakistan Trade and Transit Agreement before the Kabul Conference.
Governance
Good governance is a requirement for achieving stability, security and development, and is inherent in maintaining rule of law, justice, respect for human rights, and the elimination of corrupt practices. The Government will focus on five areas of governance: national governance and policy coordination, civil service reform, sub-national governance, rule of law and human rights.
Successful implementation of this agenda requires effective decision-making and implementation mechanisms at all levels of government. To achieve this, the Government must strive to build effective institutions with strong presence outside of Kabul to implement its policies and programs. A foundation for this will be the agreement of Government to a sub-national governance policy that will clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all actors in our provinces, districts and villages. Once agreed, this policy can form the basis for cooperation within levels of government in the provision of essential services to all regions of the country. Of critical importance will be an increased commitment to rule of law, and attention will be given to ensuring that our countries judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel are given the training, support and protection they need to function effectively. The Government will continue to implement civil service reforms to enable the government at all levels to function more effectively. We ask the international community to assist by working through and reinforcing the Government mechanisms, rather than establishing parallel structures.
Anti-Corruption
In our efforts in creating a strong state where good governance and rule of law prevail, corruption and allegations of corruption both serve to undermine confidence in the Government among our population. This impacts our efforts in all sectors. The Government is committed to a whole of Government approach in fighting corruption, and will continue broad institutional reform of Ministries and services to reduce their vulnerability to corruption. The cabinet will be relied upon as the key organization for ensuring the collective responsibility of the executive branch, and will work closely with the Parliament to ensure robust legal foundation for accountability and transparency and with the Supreme Court to transform the judiciary into a trusted instrument for the delivery of justice.
Immediately following the London Conference the President will issues decrees to strengthen the legal foundations of the fight against corruption. These decrees will further strengthen and clarify the role of the High Office of Oversight (HOO) as the principal instrument for implementing the Government's anti-corruption agenda. They will require asset declaration and verification by senior officials, and will make provisions enabling seizure of assets obtained by corruption practice. They will also ensure that the HOO will work in a coordinated way with the other agencies involved in the anti-corruption efforts, such as the Attorney General's Office, the Auditor General's Office and the Major Crime's Task Force.
Ministers and Governors will be held accountable for their actions and the actions of the offices they lead. All Government Ministries and Agencies will be required to prepare an anti- corruption action plan and their performance at delivering the results of this plan will be monitored and reported by the HOO. A group of esteemed experts will be invited to Afghanistan to monitor and evaluate its progress in achieving defined benchmarks in the fight against corruption.
Aid Effectiveness
Aid plays a critical role in the development, poverty reduction, and economic growth of
Afghanistan. The whole of Afghanistan's development budget, as well as about 35% of its operating expenditures, are currently financed by foreign assistance. In total, aid amounted to 43% of GDP in 2008. However, the critical issue is not resources spent but the sustainable impact aid achieves. This is substantially affected by the mode of its delivery. In Afghanistan, the challenge of effective development is rather unique: development is undermined by high levels of instability, and thirty years of conflict have reduced the capacity of the civil service to manage aid. Effective aid is critical to improving the capacity and legitimacy of the
Government, and ultimately in reducing the root causes of instability. Hence, GoIRA believes that aid can only meet its development objectives - ultimately supporting a move away from aid dependency - when aid is clearly Afghan led and owned.
The Government is ready to take the steps for more making aid more effective. To ensure aid is delivered in a more coordinated and effective manner, the Government will utilize its ANDS cluster strategy to prioritize and sequence development objectives. Channeling funds directly through the budget is essential to drive ongoing sustainability. Programs delivered through Government build Afghan capacity, increase Afghan accountability, are aligned with Afghan priorities, cost less and earn the trust of the Afghan people. While the Afghanistan
Reconstruction Trust Fund remains a successful mechanism through which donors can provide resources through the Government's budget, it is important for donor funds to take the next step of providing resources directly to the Government. Innovative approaches are needed to increase the amount of assistance delivered in this way. The GoIRA is doing its part by improving its capacity to deliver development by further strengthening its governance and public financial management systems. To increase accountability, Government also wants to improve how it works and reports on results, and will ensure an effective monitoring and evaluation system is in place.
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