Davos: The international partners in Afghanistan need to impose tough conditions for improving democracy and stopping corruption in Hamid Karzai's government, and then make sure that he sticks to them, said Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister of Afghanistan from 2001 to 2006, and presidential candidate last year.
"The London conference today between the Afghan government and its international partners will not succeed unless the Karzai government adopts new policies that empower people, welcomes devolved powers at a parliamentary and regional levels, and moves against corruption," Abdullah told Gulf News yesterday during the World Economic Forum.
"The government will need to talk with the Taliban, and eventually the Taliban will have to come into mainstream Afghan society," said Abdullah. But he was clear that talks based on surrendering to the Taliban's current demands for a more Islamic society would be a disaster.
"They will need to recognise the constitution and work within the laws of the country, and then campaign for the society they want."
Abdullah spoke out against the present government's record, dismissing Karzai as a president with half a mandate from the flawed election, half a cabinet which he cannot get approved, and no purpose or long-term vision.
Increasing gap
"The biggest problem we face is the growing gap between this government with no vision and the people of Afghanistan," he said.
"The incompetence and corruption comes on top of this basic problem."
Abdullah argues that long-term peace will need fundamental reform, and he would like a conference in Kabul to plan what he describes as urgent constitutional reform. "Decision making is highly centralised on the presidential palace, which does not reflect diverse and devolved nature of Afghan power and society. Afghanistan needs a parliamentary system rather than presidential, so there is a continuing and inclusive debate. Regional governors should be elected, and people need to be, and feel, more empowered."
The international presence in Afghanistan is welcome, said Abdullah, but it will certainly not lead to any success unless the government is reformed, and a more effective vision is created. "How can Karzai blame the international forces for everything, yet at the same time he is the principle benefactor of the international presence," he asked.
This is why he is asking the international partners in Afghanistan to rethink their relationship with Karzai. Abdullah said that Afghans need to recognise that after seven years of failure, they need to rethink and develop their own new plans for the future. Then the international partners need to support this change so that the country finds a new and more hopeful way forward.
