issues for consideration at the berlin donor conference ... - ReliefWeb

24 THE ROAD AHEAD
support, the Afghan government has predicted that violence will resume, terrorist groups will once
again find a safe haven, and the country will descend into a narco-mafia state. 121
First, donors must make the necessary long-term commitment to rebuilding an effective Afghan security sector. The
Berlin document lays out a short, medium and long-term strategy to create a security sector under
the control of the civilian democratic leadership. The Afghan government estimates that over the
medium term, from the 2004-2005 budget year until the 2010-2011 budget year, a total of $645
million will be required for police and law enforcement, $1.77 billion for the Afghan National Army
(ANA), and $164 million for counter-narcotics operations. 122
Second, the international community should urgently move forward with the long overdue commitment to expand forces
outside Kabul. Expanding the number of PRTs will not in and of itself address Afghanistan’s security
problems.
Third, donors must better coordinate their security-related activities. Different donors are leading the various
security-related activities discussed above: the United States has taken the lead on the ANA,
Germany on the Afghan National Police, the United Kingdom on counter-narcotics, and Italy on
judicial reform. While this design was meant to ensure long-term engagement by a multitude of
countries, it has served in practice to create a disjointed and less effective security sector. Donors
must synchronize these efforts to ensure consistency of purpose and improve the overall results.
The Afghan government is calling for the creation of a Unified National Security Framework, which
would provide much-needed national ownership, guidance, and coordination.
Fourth, the international community should use diplomatic and other measures to discourage Afghanistan’s neighbors
from harboring spoilers and terrorists. The U.S. government should seek to reaffirm the non-interference
commitment made by all of Afghanistan’s neighbors in December 2002, something the Berlin
document notes. The signatories to that pledge agreed to not supply arms and military equipment,
and to respect the borders of Afghanistan (including the disputed Durand Line frontier with
Pakistan). 123
121 "Securing Afghanistan's Future."
122 Ibid.
123 Council on Foreign Relations report.