Topic: Karzai: Shutting down PRTs = end to bypassing AFG gov't

[milnews.ca]

Shared in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 29, of the Copyright Act.

This from the Indian Express:

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday sought to turn the tables on NATO powers, asking them to stop directly funding “parallel structures of governance” in Afghanistan and do away with Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) that have become an “impediment to improving governance”.

In doing so, Karzai has reversed the rhetoric on the US-led NATO forces, repeatedly pointing to an exit by 2014. The Afghan President now says if his government has to assume full responsibility of its security and governance by 2014, then some of the existing structures through which western powers now operate in Afghanistan must go too. He identified four steps that his government feels need to be taken immediately to help the transfer of responsibility:

* Withdrawing all private security forces

* Do away with Provincial Reconstruction Teams or bring them under the Afghan government

More from Afghanistan's TOLOnews.com:

Karzai's decision to disband Nato's provincial reconstruction teams has caused widespread concerns among experts and activists in Afghanistan.

Some Afghan activists described President Karzai's new suggestion about disbandment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) as premature and devastating.

At Munich Security Conference, President Hamid Karzai emphasised on a need to dissolve all private security firms and said provincial reconstruction teams should end their missions in Afghanistan.

President Karzai described provincial reconstruction teams as immense challenge facing the Afghan government, the New York Times reported.

"I disagree with the idea and consider it a big loss to our provinces," Habibullah Kalimzai, an Afghan political analyst, told TOLOnews.

"Karzai's stances are not based on will of the people and Afghan institutions, but are more political," Haroun Mir, an Afghan political analyst, told TOLOnews.

According to New York Times Karzai has come up with the decision because donor countries directly support PRTs.

Admiral James Stavridis, Nato's Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, opposed Karzai's claim and said the teams pose no problems to the Afghan government.

Western countries have been doubtful about Karzai's potential to fight corruption in his government system, the New York Times said.

President Karzai's decision on PRTs is seen as clearly indicating that the presence of international community hugely threatens his authorities.

A bit more from the Canadian Press:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday that channeling aid past his government undermines efforts to make it more effective, identifying NATO's provincial reconstruction teams as one of his concerns.

But he also renewed pledges to tackle corruption in Afghanistan, a key reason that organizations are reluctant to deal with the government directly.

Karzai said on the final day of a security conference in Munich that he is "determined to demonstrate Afghan leadership and ownership of the transition process" as Afghanistan prepares to take full responsibility for its security by 2014. He said he would "announce the first phase of transition" on March 21, but didn't elaborate.

Afghanistan has a bureaucracy which "both because of its inherited structures and ill-co-ordinated technical assistance from our partners has become a patchwork of different approaches to governance," Karzai said.

He added that it needs help to build "a civil service that's efficient, modern and apolitical."

That shift, he said, "requires a fundamental shift away from reliance on parallel organizations and mechanisms that bypass the state." He identified "parallel structures" such as private security firms, the NATO-led international force's provincial reconstruction teams and direct support to provincial offices ....

[milnews.ca]

Karzai's opposition leader:  let's not be hasty here....

Abdullah, leader of the opposition party, Tuesday slammed President Karzai's comments about disbandment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

He called PRTs as a "serious need" in Afghan community.

Abdullah, Leader of the Change and Hope Party, warned that Afghan security forces wouldn't be able to ensure security by 2014 if the security situation continues to be the same.

President Karzai at a news conference on Tuesday once again highlighted the need for removal of provincial reconstruction teams that are functioning under Isaf in different provinces.

While hailing the teams for their service to the Afghan community in different parts, Abdullah said they are playing a key role in reconstruction and rehabilitation in the country.

"At a time when the government is unable to deliver basic services to people we should use this means to build fundamentals and to improve Afghanistan," Abdullah told TOLOnews.

Abdullah warned that following withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban would return back to Afghanistan ....

[PuckChaser]

This opposition leader seems to know the right things to say to drum up NATO support. Karzai is shooting himself in the foot with his comments IMO.