Director, Afghan Health and Development Services
Director of the Afghan Health and Development Services
PROFILE
Aziz Qarghah
Guest
FROM Aziz Qarghah
Which Way, L.A.?
Islamabad, Kabul, Washington and International Politics At Camp David on Monday, Presidents Bush and Karzai were bullish on the upcoming meeting. Musharraf has been much in the news since U.S. intelligence reported that Al Qaeda is regrouping in his country, and the Democratic candidates for President have been trying to sound tough in case Musharraf fails to take action.
To the Point
Poppies, Jihadis Stand in the Way of Progress in Afghanistan At Camp David on Monday, with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai by his side, President Bush warmly endorsed a "jirga ," a traditional meeting to resolve disputes. Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf , had agreed to attend tomorrow's meeting in Kabul, but today declined, saying the press of business will keep him at home in Islamabad. Musharraf says he hopes lower-ranking officials can resolve issues between the two countries, but his withdrawal is seen as a snub to the United States. Bush and Karzai say al Qaeda in Pakistan is helping the Taliban stage a bloody resurgence, which is also fueled by a record crop of opium poppies. Will Karzai have to go it alone? Would legalizing poppy-production help ease the pressure. Can the "jirga" make a difference, without either Musharraf or the Taliban?
To the Point
Can NATO Hold Off the Taliban in Afghanistan? Poland will send another 1,000 soldiers to Afghanistan, where NATO commanders have asked for more troops to face the Taliban's brutal resurgence. But, while the need on the ground is immediate, the Polish soldiers won't arrive until February of next year. While there is there's no evidence yet of any "direct link" between the Taliban and the insurgency in Iraq, in addition to suicide bombers and IED's, Afghanistan is seeing assassinations of government officials and other civilians as well as increased used of guerilla tactics. What's happened to the democracy established after the US invasion? Has a lack of follow-up by the western powers shattered Afghan expectations? What's the role of Pakistan?
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