Afghanistan will slowly begin taking control of its internal security concerns over the next three years, under a new plan forged with its allies Thursday at a London conference.
The meeting of delegates from 70 countries set a timeline for the handover of security duties in the war-torn country, at a time when Afghan allies are losing public support for a war that has dragged on for more than eight years.
Under the plan, the Afghan National Army will be conducting “the majority of operations in the insecure areas of Afghanistan within three years,” the leaders said in a communique issued at the end of Thursday’s talks.
Afghan security forces will start this process as soon as the end of this year, and no later than the start of 2011 -- a key time period where allies expect to see the transition well in hand.
“By the middle of next year, we have to turn the tide,” said Prime Minister Gordon Brown during an opening set of remarks at the start of the conference.
By 2011, the Afghan National Army is expected to swell to 171,600 members, and the Afghan National Police to 134, 000 members.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai expects that foreign troops will stay in Afghanistan for at least 10 years, even if Afghan forces are in charge in the near future.
"With regard to training and equipping the Afghan security forces, five to 10 years will be enough," Karzai told the BBC. "With regard to sustaining them until Afghanistan is financially able to provide for our forces, the time will be extended to 10 to 15 years."
Taliban appeal
Karzai also won the support of allies on his plan to bring some Taliban fighters who are willing to “cut ties with al Qaeda and other terrorist groups and pursue their political goals peacefully.”
Karzai’s intent is to offer housing, jobs and other incentives to get moderate and marginal Taliban members to renounce violence.
CTV’s Tom Kennedy said international allies supported Karzai’s plan to divide ideological fighters from the so-called “$10 Taliban” who are poorly-paid, but depend on the money they receive for fighting as insurgents.
“These are poor Afghans who are simply fighting because the Taliban pay them a few dollars a day in order to continue the fight,” he told CTV’s Canada AM from London on Thursday morning.
“The objective is to split them up,” Kennedy said.
World leaders said they would provide funding for Karzai’s plan for the Taliban, though no specific figures were agreed to. International allies have pledged to provide at least US$500 million for the cause, though no firm figure was provided at the conference.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States would back the reconciliation fund, if insurgents pledge to turn away from violence, renounce their ties to al Qaeda and embrace democracy.
The U.S. military “has been authorized to use substantial funds to support the effort,” Clinton said.
Earlier this week, the UN pulled the names of five former Taliban officials -- including a former confidant of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar -- from a UN sanction list, to support reconciliation efforts.
Karzai recognized the UN’s gesture, but asked for further support.
“We wish for more progress in this regard,” said Karzai.
The Taliban rejected Karzai’s plan on its website Wednesday, saying their fighters would not be swayed by financial incentives.
Corruption crackdown?
The 70 nations said Karzai promised to crack down on corruption and a forthcoming summit in Kabul would offer specific plans to bolster the faltering Afghan government.
Overall, the leaders said the discussions marked a “decisive step towards greater Afghan leadership to secure, stabilize and develop Afghanistan.”
But they expect progress.
A team of Afghan and foreign experts will join an anti-corruption monitoring team that will make a visit to Karzai’s country in three months. And an independent office will be created “to investigate and sanction corrupt officials.”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the international community backed Karzai, but wanted him to deliver on his promises.
"We have expectations for him," she told The Associated Press. "But we also have high hopes for him."
With files from The Associated Press
