Updated at: 0721 PST, Wednesday, December 09, 2009
WASHINGTON: The West may have to bankroll Afghanistan’s security for 20 more years, President Karzai warned yesterday, as Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, promised not to abandon the war-ravaged country.Despite serious concerns over the credibility of Karzai’s Government, particularly its ability to root out corruption, Gates said on a visit to Kabul that America’s military withdrawal would be spread over several years.Aid money, he added, could last for decades. Diplomats have warned that future financial support depends on Afghan efforts to purge government corruption.“We will fight by your side until the Afghan security forces are large enough and strong enough to secure the nation on their own,” Gates said, standing alongside Karzai.“Whether it’s three years or two years or four years remains to be seen.”His remarks were seen as a clear endorsement of the country’s Minister of Defence, Abdul Rahim Wardak, and the Interior Minister, Hanif Atmar.Speaking to reporters en route to Afghanistan, Gates described both men as “very capable people”.Karzai is understood to have promised their jobs to other people — many times over — in exchange for tribal support in August’s fraud-ridden presidential elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment