By Ambassador Stewart Eldon

The NATO Council paid its annual visit to Afghanistan from 16-18 March.  For the first time, Ambassadors of ISAF troop contributing countries were included, and the larger ISAF family was well represented.  I’m grateful to all the staff in ISAF and at NATO for organizing a visit by 42 Ambassadors so efficiently; it’s a great deal of work but the effort is much appreciated.

After a 7 hour flight in a USAF C-17 offered by SACEUR, we landed at Kabul early on Monday evening.  Into town through the bustling traffic, giving the lie to stories that the Taliban have terrorised the capital.  Then a briefing from COMISAF, Gen David McKiernan.  He’s confident that ISAF’s strategy in Afghanistan will succeed, given steadfast military and political support from NATO and the wider international community.  Fernando Gentilini, the NATO Senior Civil Representative, tells us about recent political developments, including those relating to the Presidential elections. 

Then on to a session over dinner with local Embassies and representatives of international organizations operating in Kabul.  I’m pleased to meet Chris Alexander, the Deputy Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan, and a number of other friends from earlier diplomatic assignments.  They too say that the situation is not as desperate or black-and-white as sometimes painted in the international media.  Diplomacy is a small world, but I didn’t expect to meet so many former colleagues in Kabul.  It’s testimony to the importance the international community attaches to success in Afghanistan.

The next morning we fan out around the country.  Five visits are organized, including to the newly established Border Co-ordination Centre at Torkham Gate on the Afghan side of the Khyber Pass, where Afghan and Pakistani forces are working together to improve border security at one of the most important crossing points.  I go to Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gar in the South, with a number of colleagues whose countries contribute troops to Regional Command (South), together with the welcome addition of my Swedish and Belgian counterparts.

The Netherlands-led PRT in Tarin Kowt has grown significantly since I first visited in 2006.  Together with their Australian and other colleagues, the Dutch are making a significant contribution in one of the poorest provinces in Afghanistan.  The three Accelerated Development Zones they have created now cover most of Uruzgan’s population, and there are plans to join them up, removing the pockets of insurgency between them.   The PRT operates in close conjunction with the EU and other international actors and UNAMA (the UN Mission in Afghanistan) will shortly open an office in Tarin Kowt.  The Commander of the NATO Task Force in Uruzgan paid tribute to the role of the Afghan National Army, and – as all military commanders do – hoped more (ANA) troops will be deployed to the Province.  It’s clear that the operation in Uruzgan is very much a part of a coordinated RC(South) strategy, and much the better for it.

On to the British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand.  We’re greeted by the Stars and Stripes flying over a US Marine Aviation detachment preparing for the reinforcements announced by President Obama, some of which will operate in the province.  The UK is facilitating their arrival in a good example of Allied cooperation.

A low level flight by RAF Chinook takes us to the Civil-Military Mission in Helmand (CMMH) in Lashkar Gar.  We’re met by Hugh Powell, who until recently headed the Security Policy Department in the FCO and now leads the integrated UK effort in Helmand.  With him is Brigadier Gordon Messenger, the Commander of Task Force Helmand.  Together they brief us on the efforts being made to extend the security envelope in Helmand to take forward the NATO/Afghan policy of clear, hold and build to counter the insurgency.  Hugh underlines the difficulties and emphasizes the importance of the Afghan contribution, including in particular civil police.

Over lunch we meet Governor Mangal of Helmand.  He’s an impressive figure.  His briefing focuses on the efforts being made to attack the drugs trade, in particular by encouraging farmers to grow other crops in the food zones of Helmand.  He underlines both his commitment to focused eradication and the serious harm the drugs trade is doing to the fabric of Afghan society.

Back to Kabul and to a dinner hosted by Afghan Defence Minister Wardak.  An excellent opportunity to talk to Afghan contacts and to members of the ISAF Headquarters.  I come away reassured about the breadth and intensity of the continuing international effort.

Our final day is built around meetings with Afghan Ministers, President Karzai and the Speaker of the Parliament.  The discussions are wide-ranging and include subjects such as Afghan Police and Army training, reconciliation, corruption, drugs and governance and the Presidential elections.  President Karzai underlines the sensitivity of issues such as civilian casualties, but pays tribute to NATO’s sustained contribution.

Then back to Brussels.  The winds are against us, and I use the 8 hours on the C-17 to write my visit report and this piece for the Delegation Website. 

In short, an interesting visit at an interesting time that will help greatly in preparing for the NATO Summit in Strasbourg and Kehl next month and the wider Foreign Ministers’ meeting in The Hague shortly beforehand.  Afghanistan is a complex counter-insurgency operation.  But important strides have already been made.  With careful planning and the involvement of the whole international community success is well within reach.

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