Washington: The veteran diplomat nominated to be the next US ambassador to Afghanistan has said that the country’s future will depend on what happens in neighboring Pakistan.
Addressing before lawmakers on the US Senate Foreign Relations committee Ryan Crocker Wednesday said the situation in Afghanistan will not improve without “a fair measure of success in Pakistan.”
The US has been putting increased pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror groups based within its borders ever since US commandos killed former al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a garrison town of Islamabad last month.
Crocker also warned the US must be careful as it begins a planned drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. He said the US must make sure terror groups do not use the drawdown as an opportunity to move their bases back to Afghanistan.
The hearing on Crocker’s nomination comes as US lawmakers are increasingly expressing their frustration with the length and expense with the war in Afghanistan.
A report Wednesday by the Senate Foreign Relations committee said that Washington has little to show for the nearly US$19 billion it has spent aiding the Afghan government over the last decade. It warned that the US attempts to rebuild Afghanistan may not survive when foreign troops leave the country in 2014.
The report also said that the US government’s spending – by the sheer amount of it – has often overwhelmed the local Afghan economies and fostered corruption.
Crocker admitted that corruption is a key problem in Afghanistan, saying it amounted to a “second insurgency,” making groups like the Taliban more attractive.
Crocker served as a diplomat in Afghanistan in 2002, when he helped reopen the US Embassy in Kabul. He also served as ambassador to Iraq and Pakistan.
The chairman of the Senate committee, Democrat John Kerry, expressed hope that the panel and the full Senate would approve Crocker’s nomination quickly.
Senior Defense Department officials have cautioned against a precipitous withdrawal for fear that US military gains against the Taliban could be reversed. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is retiring soon, has called for a “modest” decrease.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription