NATO Ministers Endorse Greater Anti-Drug Role in Afghanistan
During an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Budapest, Hungary, October 9-10, the participants responded to a request from Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak for aid to counter the corrupting influence of drugs in his country. The group agreed that ISAF, working with the Afghan Army, can take action against drug labs or drug traffickers “subject to the authorization of respective nations” that comprise NATO’s military force.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization ( NATO ) is embracing a broader counternarcotics role in Afghanistan for the International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF ) as well as a new mission to deter pirates off the coast of Somalia.
During an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Budapest, Hungary, October 9-10, the participants responded to a request from Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak for aid to counter the corrupting influence of drugs in his country. The group agreed that ISAF, working with the Afghan Army, can take action against drug labs or drug traffickers “subject to the authorization of respective nations” that comprise NATO’s military force.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates highlighted the problem in Afghanistan by pointing out that the Taliban is earning millions of dollars in drug trafficking profits, which he said “not only is corrosive to good governance” but also directly finances those who are killing Afghan, U.S. and coalition soldiers.
The alliance is not in the business of crop eradication, Gates said, “but if we have the opportunity to go after drug lords and ... labs — to interrupt this flow of cash to the Taliban — it seems like a legitimate security endeavor.”
U.S. Army General John Craddock, the supreme allied commander of European forces, issued an October 10 statement expressing his gratitude that the North Atlantic Council has given him expanded authority to use ISAF for counternarcotics operations. “We now have the ability to move forward in an area that affects the security and stability of Afghanistan,” he said. “It will allow us to reduce the funding and income to the insurgents, which will enhance the force protection of ISAF and Afghan National Security Force personnel.”
The NATO ministers also agreed during the Budapest meeting to use the alliance’s Standing Naval Maritime Group to patrol the international waters around Somalia to address the problem of increasingly brazen attacks by pirates. In response to an overture from United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, NATO forces will soon escort World Food Programme-contracted ships as they carry out their mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Somalia.
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said it is essential that food shipments reach their destinations because, without those deliveries, “millions of Somalis risk starvation.” He said the NATO patrols will be carried out in close consultations with the European Union, which is also tackling the pirate problem.
The anti-piracy operation is yet another example of an out-of-area mission for NATO. “There will soon be NATO military vessels off the coast of Somalia, hopefully deterring piracy and escorting food shipments,” de Hoop Scheffer said, “and I think that’s good news for the people of Somalia and … bad news for the pirates.”
GEORGIA, RUSSIA, PAKISTAN AND ALLIANCE REFORM ALSO DOMINATE TALKS
The two-day session in Budapest also provided the venue for the first minister-level meeting of the NATO-Georgia Commission, which was established in September. During discussion of the political situation in Georgia, the ministers reiterated their firm support for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Although they also expressed support for Georgian defense reform, the NATO secretary-general said the alliance will not supply military equipment to help rebuild Georgia’s armed forces, but it will provide guidance and advice.
De Hoop Scheffer said the assessment of Georgia’s potential membership action plan — required before the alliance will issue a formal invitation to join — will take place in December during the meeting of NATO foreign ministers at allied headquarters in Brussels.
He also noted that all parties appeared on track to meet the October 10 requirements established by the cease-fire agreement following Russia’s August 8 invasion of Georgia. “It is encouraging that Russia seems to be withdrawing its forces,” de Hoop Scheffer said.
Ministers also turned their attention to alliance reform. The secretary-general said the ministers agreed on the need to be better able to deploy ground forces to distant missions like Afghanistan. He said they decided to raise the percentage of total deployable allied ground forces from the previous benchmark of 40 percent to 50 percent.
They also discussed ongoing shortfalls of soldiers and trainers in Afghanistan as well as a deficit of helicopters and aircraft for a variety of missions including medical evacuation.
Seven years after the fall of the Taliban, the NATO official said there are still great challenges in Afghanistan as well as distinct indicators of progress. There is no reason “for gloom and doom,” de Hoop Scheffer said.
The secretary-general also said the defense ministers agreed on the need for stronger political and military cooperation with Pakistan. The new civilian government is taking serious steps to fight the extremists who are seeking not only to destabilize Pakistan but Afghanistan as well.
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This story was released on 2008-10-14. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.