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U.S. Officials See Progress, Challenges in Afghanistan

09 March 2006

United States supports broad array of Afghan stabilization, development efforts

By David Shelby
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – Conditions in Afghanistan remain extremely challenging more than four years after the fall of the Taliban but, according to senior U.S. government officials, the Afghans are making steady progress towards establishing the foundations of security and prosperity.

“I’m not here to tell you everything is going swimmingly.  It is a tough slog,” Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) James Kunder told members of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asian Affairs on March 9.  But he added, “There has been very substantial progress made in the last four years, primarily because of the Afghans themselves.”

Subcommittee members questioned Kunder about the lack of measurable progress in basic human development indicators such as the infant mortality rate, to which he responded, “It is still a very tough place to work.”  He said it takes decades of sustained investment to achieve improvements in mortality rates.  He also explained that it requires action on many fronts.

“This is a classic case, after 23 years of war there, where everything needs to be fixed at once,” he said.  “Hence we are in a broad array of program areas in Afghanistan.  We are trying to balance showing immediate success by building schools and clinics and roads and visible projects with the need to build a foundation for long-term economic growth.  So we are working on economic policy reform, getting an investment law written to encourage private-sector investment in Afghanistan.”

Kunder and other administration and military officials addressing the hearing acknowledged that violence remains a serious problem in Afghanistan.  Rear Admiral Robert Moeller, director of plans and policy for the U.S. Central Command, said the insurgents remain unpopular in most parts of the country, but they do enjoy pockets of support from which they are able to disrupt reconstruction activities.  He said that, as the coalition forces extend their reach throughout the country, they are more likely to come into contact with these pockets of insurgents. 

“We anticipate that we’re going to see a fairly violent spring and summer and then an improvement in overall conditions as we get toward the end of the year,” he said.  NATO forces will be taking over coalition positions in southern Afghanistan this summer, freeing up coalition forces to focus on remaining insurgent strongholds, he said.

He said the central pillar of coalition efforts to stabilize the country is training the Afghan army and police force.  He also said there has been steady progress in building up the army.

“The Afghan army now numbers over 26,000 trained and equipped troops,” he said.  “Most important in terms of progress, the citizens of Afghanistan are beginning to view the ANA [Afghan National Army] as a truly national institution that is both trusted and respected.”

He said progress has been slower in building the police force but that the coalition and Afghan leaders are focused on the task.  “Loyal and competent police are essential to spreading the rule of law and good governance,” he said.

For more information on U.S. policy, see Rebuilding Afghanistan.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)