Reports from the ground in Afghanistan are among the most troubling since the U.S.-led invasion began, with President Hamid Karzai's likely re-election coming at the expense of a good share of public trust.
The Canadian government ought to join Britain, France and Germany in calling for a United Nations conference on Afghanistan this year. New facts demand a rethinking of old objectives.
Allegations of election fraud are not simply a regrettable cost of doing business and trying to bring about peace; they go to the heart of the intended results of the mission, which is meant to empower Afghans to run their own institutions across political divides, to deliver security and services. And there is ample reason to be concerned, especially about the role of Ahmed Wali Karzai, whose dominance in Kandahar province has been accompanied by reports of brazen vote-buying on behalf of his half-brother Hamid. The Electoral Complaints Commission reports 39 instances of complaints that could have a material effect on results in Kandahar, the third highest number of any province.
This is not a testament to the quality of Canadian capacity-building in the region, but rather a barometer of the broader problems of transitioning to peaceful and non-corrupt rule in Afghanistan. Across the country, the elections have been accompanied by fraud, violence – dozens of deaths on election day alone – and fear. The estimated turnout of 35 per cent could be half the level of the 2004 turnout.
Disputed election results are not the only news coming out of a troubled summer. The litany of problems includes NATO-ordered bombings resulting in civilian deaths, more deaths of allied troops, and mounting evidence that the Taliban has extended its influence. Even the new efforts that should hasten stabilization in the medium term, such as an increased U.S. troop presence, will come at a cost, as increased engagement leads to more casualties.
None of this trumps the merit of the international mission to reduce the terrorist threat coming out of the region. But taken together, these facts challenge the benchmarks set for the country, such as the one that called for functioning institutions of justice operating in every province by the end of 2010. Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown have observed that this confluence of circumstances demands an “evaluation of the challenges remaining before us.” The European leaders say in their letter to Ban-Ki Moon requesting a UN conference that “we should agree on new benchmarks and timelines in order to formulate a joint framework for our transition phase in Afghanistan.”
Canada is not alone in its effort to stabilize the country. Joining the Europeans in calling for a sensible discussion of benchmarks, in light of these new facts, would be an act of leadership.
