Political Counselor Haidari Speaks to the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Political Counselor M. Ashraf Haidari spoke on a panel discussion titled "Afghanistan: A Road Map for Progress" hosted by the Congressional Progressive Caucus on May 13, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The panel focused on the current regional efforts undertaken by the Obama administration to help stabilize Afghanistan and discussed whether those efforts were enough to address the challenges facing Afghanistan and its international partners. Haidari welcomed regional cooperation as one of the key components of the new U.S. comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan, and discussed the country's foreign policy towards the region.
Haidari noted that regional cooperation was the cornerstone of Afghanistan's foreign, security, and development policies given the many common security, socio-economic, and cultural interests Afghanistan shares with its six neighbors. He cited the region's recent history as being clear about the consequences of not cooperating to ensure regional peace and prosperity. "We know from our recent past over the past thirty years that when regional players have pursued shortsighted national interests shrouded in dubious and extremist ideologies at the cost of regional cooperation and collective security, not only has Afghanistan been destroyed but also the whole region has been destabilized by the spillovers created by state collapse and failure in our country," Haidari noted.
However, Haidari pointed out, "In the post-9/11 era, states in the region have come to realize that stability in Afghanistan serves their own national security interests, and that international cooperation is the key to fighting and defeating the threats of extremism, terrorism, and narcotics that continue to undermine regional and global peace." He added that Afghanistan continues to remain both the main victim of these threats and the main front to fight and defeat them.
Haidari said that Afghanistan was committed to cooperating with the United States, NATO, and regional players to work with Pakistan to fight and defeat extremism and terrorism in the region. "Pakistan itself is no longer safe from the Taliban and their ideology of hatred," said Haidari, and called on the country’s military and intelligence establishment to reconsider their strategic thinking towards Afghanistan, thereby sincerely cooperating in the fight against violent extremism.
Moreover, Haidari expressed the gratitude of the Afghan people and government to the United States Congress for their continued strong bi-partisan support to help secure Afghanistan. "The tragedy of 9/11 is a sad reminder that neglecting Afghanistan's stabilization and reconstruction was a strategic mistake, which should never be repeated," he said.
He expressed appreciation for the services of several U.S. veterans of Afghanistan present in the audience, and told the leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus that the Afghan people remain the world’s strategic asset in the fight against violent extremism. "With the people of Afghanistan firmly on our side, I am most optimistic about our success to win the peace in the country and to ensure international peace and security for everyone," Haidari concluded.
