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Afghanistan Moving Closer to a Self-Governing Nation?

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Is Afghanistan ready to be a self-governing country? Well, US says is making progress in taking control of its future

Eighteen months since the inauguration of the Istanbul Process, the United States of America today said Afghanistan is making some important milestones particularly in security, economic, and political transition.

In his remarks at the “Heart Of Asia” Ministerial in Kazakhstan, Deputy Secretary William J. Burns says Afghans are taking the lead for security across their country.

The Afghan National Security Forces now lead nearly 90 percent of all combat operations in Afghanistan. Later this spring, the Forces will be in the lead 100 percent of the time.

U.S. Army providing security in 2011 while ANP officers conduct routine vehicle inspections at Freedom Circle in the heart of downtown Kabul.

Reports say Afghan Security Forces will take responsibility of 12 provinces and 52 districts.

Twenty-three of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces are reportedly currently fully in the transition process.

Amid challenges, the US observes that the Afghan forces are eager to take security responsibility.

Political, and economic transitions underway for Afghanistan

According to Mr. Burns, Afghans are working to advance a national dialogue on peace and reconciliation and to prepare for next year’s important elections.

“Sustainable security will require a successful political transition.” – Mr. Burns

He says in less than a year, Afghans will choose what kind of country they want to live in, what kind of leaders they want to empower, and, ultimately, how they will bring to an end the conflict that has divided their country for over three decades.

US hopes that the elections next April will be a unifying moment for Afghanistan, one that advances a reconciliation process that ends the violence and brings peace to the region.

In economic front, Mr. Burns says Afghanistan’s economic transition away from donor dependency and toward increased self-sufficiency and private sector-led development.

Soldiers of the Afghan National Army, including the ANA Commando Battalion standing in the front.

He says the framework of mutual commitments and mutual accountability agreed to in Tokyo last year is essential for this transition to deliver.

“And so is the growing regional consensus and ownership of what we call the New Silk Road Vision.” – Mr. Burns

We all remain committed to advancing that vision, and to our belief that regional interconnectedness is vitally important, both as a driver of economic development and as an anchor of security.

From increasing infrastructure links to progress on potentially transformative energy projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline, and increasing regional embrace of the importance of transparent and inclusive trade regimes like the WTO, the countries of the region are realizing that the promise of regional connectivity and integration are tremendous.

Heart of Asia nations ready to help Afghanistan

One of the notable achievements of Afghanistan is that it participating as a sovereign partner in discussions about the future of its region, and the region is uniting in support of Afghanistan.

The US believes that regional engagement, coordination, and integration are essential prerequisites for sustainable stability across South and Central Asia.

“Afghanistan’s neighbors and partners have an important role to play in supporting a successful security transition.” – Mr. Burns

In its security transition, the international coalition has laid out a clear plan of support.

Mr. Burns says the members of the coalition reaffirmed in the Chicago Summit Declaration on Afghanistan just over a year ago, we stand ready to continue to train, advise, and assist Afghan forces beyond the end of the ISAF mission in 2014.

In addition, the Heart of Asian countries can also help to train, finance, and equip the Afghan army and police.

They can do this by expanding coordination with Afghanistan to stem the movement of dangerous material, people, and finances across borders.

Afghanistan and its neighbors

Mr. Burns says Afghanitsn and its neighbours share many common threats that will require solutions developed and carried out by Afghanistan and its neighbors, and supported by the international community.

“We applaud the important progress made on implementing the confidence building measures agreed to in February 2012 and we will continue to do our part to support this process.” – Mr. Burns

He adds that there is no escaping the simple fact that Afghanistan’s fortunes are tied to its neighborhood, just as the neighborhood’s fortunes are tied to Afghanistan.

The US is looking forward to continuing to work with all of you to ensure that Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia realize their shared aspiration for a stable, secure, and prosperous future.

Saying that Afghanistan is currently managing three very significant transitions in terms of security, political, and economic, the United States of America said it will continue to support the Afghan people in taking control of its future.

The United States is committed to an enduring partnership with the Afghan people as they seek a secure and democratic nation.

The United States supports a strong and a united Afghanistan that secures its rightful place in the community of nations over the course of these next years.

US Helps Afghanistan manage its three transitions: security, political, economic

Afghanistan is managing three very significant transitions: a security transition, a political transition, and an economic transition.

The US also supports the Afghan-led peace process, recognizing that the reconciliation is the best way to try to provide the surest end to violence and to secure a unified and a sovereign Afghanistan.

The US government continues to join with President Karzai in calling on the Taliban to join a political process, to renounce the violence and join in a political process.

Afghanistan moving closer to self-governing, to self-determination, self-reliance

US reports that while fewer women are dying in childbirth, more of them have been elected to parliament, and more of their children, especially their daughters, are going to school.

Many more Afghans are connected through the air and on the ground, with access to technologies like cell phones rising.

And more roads have been built in the past 10 years than in the entire previous history of Afghanista.

US emphasizes that there’s a lot of work yet to do, but with each of these steps, Afghanistan is moving closer to self-governing, to self-determination, self-reliance.

Afghanistan Expected to Take Full Responsibility for Its Security By 2014

With the recent announcement that 34,000 US troops will withdraw in Afghanistan, the United States of America today announced US goal is for Afghans to take full responsibility for their security by 2014

For the past decade, tens of billions of dollars in security-related spending have fueled consumption and economic growth in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia.

Since last November 2012, seven provinces and municipalities have already begun transition.

US pledges for long-term military commitment

US is negotiating a Strategic Partnership agreement that signals our long-term civil-military commitment.

US knows the cost of neglecting Afghanistan as well. The US will continue to support the sovereign rights of the people of Afghanistan.

US and Afghanistan Partnership

Both nations have worked together to set forth a long-term political, diplomatic, and security partnership, and it entered into force just a few days ago.

The US government sees this alliance as a powerful symbol of its commitment to Afghanistan’s future.

The United States also wants to continue to invest in doing what the Afghans believe they need.

The United States will continue to protect Afghanistan from any efforts by insurgents and outsiders to destabilize Afghanistan.

The US government has supported President Karzai in his effort to have an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led reconciliation process.

In December 2011, the United States withdrew 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

July 2011 marked the beginning of a responsible transition that will see Afghan forces gradually taking the lead in securing their own country.

By 2014, the process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security.

The Afghan security forces move into the lead, the United States continues to reduce its military footprint. Its mission will change from combat to support. The remaining 23,000 “surge” troops in December 2009 will leave Afghanistan by the end of summer 2012.

The U.S. government has made significant progress towards their goals as well .

Reports say the U.S. government is redoubling its efforts to pursue a peaceful end to the conflict in the region.

The U.S. government has taken tangible steps to advance Afghan reconciliation and reintegration initiatives, including support to the Afghan High Peace Council and provincial police and reintegration councils.

Mina Fabulous follows the news, especially what is going on in the US State Department. Mina turns State Department waffle into plain English. Mina Fabulous is the pen name of Carmen Avalino, the NewsBlaze production editor. When she isn’t preparing stories for NewsBlaze writers, she writes stories, but to separate her editing and writing identities, she uses the name given by her family and friends.

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