Afghans Want
More Foreign Troops
February 27, 2002 Taipei Times
AGENCIES NEW DELHI,
Afghans want more international security troops to spread out through
their country as a guarantee of the world's commitment to help Afghanistan,
interim prime minister Hamid Karzai said yesterday.
However, Karzai said that international peacekeeping forces would remain
in the country only as long as his administration deems their presence
necessary.
"As soon as Afghanistan is stable and the fight against terrorism
is over, we would ask the international forces to leave," Karzai
said at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee.
He said Afghans "demand to have more of the international forces
in Afghanistan, in more provinces."
It's not for their physical safety, he said, but the troops are wanted
as a guarantee "of the international commitment ... to Afghanistan
until it is able to take care of itself."
Vajpayee said that if Indian troops are needed to help secure Afghanistan,
"we will consider it favorably."
Karzai said he had no problem with Indian troops coming, but explained
that it is the UN, not his administration, that decides which country
contributes to the security force.
The International Security Assistance Force（ISAF）, comprising security
personnel from the US, Britain and other allied forces, has been in
Afghanistan since December.
In New Delhi on a state visit, Karzai hailed India as one of the Key
nations Kabul is looking to for help in his country's rehabilitation.
India and all other neighbors can contribute towards stability and
peace in Afghanistan so that the people of the country are able to get
a responsible government," he added.
The Afghan leader also reiterated his interim government's commitment
to wipe out terrorism.
"We will continue to fight against terrorism, fight it to the
very, absolute end of it... Afghanistan wants peace in the region. Afghanistan
will work for peace and stand firmly for the end of terrorism."
India, Russia and Iran had backed the opposition Northern Alliance
in its fight against the Taliban regime, which came to power with the
help of Pakistan in September 1996.
The Taliban was ousted from power in November following a US-led military
campaign and figures from the old Northern Alliance now dominate the
interim administration.
India's support for the alliance has been recognized by a series of
high level visits from Kabul since the beginning of the year.
New Delhi has opened a diplomatic liaison office in Kabul and pledged
US$100 million for reconstruction and development.
Yesterday Vajpayee extended another US$10 million grant "for immediate
utilization by the Afghan government."
During delegation level talks, the two sides identified several key
areas for mutual cooperation including education, information technology,
public transport, industry, energy and training for government officials.
Karzai, who was educated in the northern Indian summer resort of Shimla,
was accorded a ceremonial state welcome prior to a call on President
K.R. Narayanan.
He was also slated to hold a bilateral meeting later yesterday with
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who is also in Delhi on a brief
visit.
Afghan leaders were planning to ask Straw for more international peacekeepers,
Afghanistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Omar Samad told reporters on
Tuesday.
