WASHINGTON HAS agreed to a request from the Afghan government to take part in its overhaul of policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, as US president Barack Obama seeks a way out of the growing violence that has hit the two key US allies.
The move looked like a thawing of relations between Washington and Kabul, following the visit of US special envoy Richard Holbrooke. Mr Obama’s presidency had so far been marked by a distancing of relations with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who was backed by the Bush administration and has been accused of running a weak and corrupt state.
Mr Karzai said he was “very, very thankful that president Obama has accepted the proposal of Afghanistan joining a strategic review of the war against terrorism”.
Mr Holbrooke said at a press conference that he carried a personal message from Mr Obama, “a message of support for the people of Afghanistan and the democratically elected government”.
With presidential elections due in August, many have speculated Washington will favour an alternative candidate to Mr Karzai.
A separate agreement will see more Afghan army input into operations by international forces. It signifies an attempt to reduce civilian casualties and night-time raids.
Mr Holbrooke also visited Pakistan on his “listening” trip to the region, where Islamabad also successfully pressed for inclusion in Washington’s review. The new policy has to be in place by April, in time for a Nato summit where the US will try to convince European nations to contribute more troops to Afghanistan.
Pakistan will send a convoy to Washington next month. Islamabad believes the Karzai regime is close to its arch-enemy India and will be pressing Washington for a more Pakistan-friendly government in Afghanistan. – ( Guardiannews service)