Do you have some concerns that Mr Karzai is now referring to the Taliban as his brothers?
STEPHEN SMITH: I have made this point as well, that at some point in the cycle, in addition to making progress on the security front, which requires substantial training efforts so far as the Afghanistan army and police force and institutions of state are concerned, in addition to the civilian capacity building front there needs to be a political rapprochement, a political realignment, and a political reconciliation in Afghanistan. That can only start with the Afghanistan Government and the Afghanistan political process and the Afghanistan people themselves. And I’ve previously made the point again, as has been made by many in the international community, that there are some people who are fellow travellers with the Taliban, because they see no alternative. The Karzai Government needs to show that alternative, in terms of its capacity to provide services for its people, but also its capacity to make progress on governance and corruption and narcotics issues. QUESTION: But realistically
Related Questions
- Id ask you, were there any other concerns that supported Mr. Bonsells desire to have a press release or some sort of statement on the part of the board?
- Do you have some concerns that Mr Karzai is now referring to the Taliban as his brothers?
- Will this Jirga prove a turning point in President Karzai’s efforts to woo the Taliban?
