THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL FORCES IN PROTECTING AND ASSISTING THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN

Since the signing of the Bonn agreement, which established the framework for a new interim government in Afghanistan, the international community has taken important steps to help that country address the problem of insecurity. On December 20, 2001, the United Nations Security Council authorized the dispatch of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghanistan. The ISAF, which for an initial period of three months shall be under British leadership, has begun its initial deployment to Kabul and is eventually expect to reach a force level of up to 5,000. Under the terms of the Military Technical Agreement signed between the Interim Authority and the ISAF, the mandate of the international force is confined to Kabul and its environs.

Despite the establishment of the Interim Authority and the deployment of the ISAF, conditions in many parts of Afghanistan continue to give cause for grave concern. Although there has been success in transporting large amounts of food into the country, populations in many rural parts of Afghanistan remain in acute need of food assistance. The problem continues to be one of access. While major urban areas are now well served, many remote areas with acute food shortages are still not being adequately served. Continuing insecurity, along with snow-blocked roads, continues to hamper the efforts of aid agencies to reach areas of greatest humanitarian need.

In light of this situation, leaders of the Interim Authority have recently expressed interest in an expansion of the ISAF's geographic scope. CARE urges the international community to respond positively by renegotiating with the Interim Authority to expand the ISAF's mandate to areas outside of Kabul, including other major urban centers, as well as key routes needed to get aid to areas of acute need.

The Interim Authority faces an enormous challenge in improving security throughout Afghanistan. Such security is an absolute prerequisite for both immediate relief efforts and longer-term reconstruction. CARE believes that the ISAF should focus its efforts on assisting Afghan authorities in creating and maintaining a secure environment in which humanitarian aid can be delivered, the transition to an elected, constitutional government can be sustained, and the reconstruction of the country can be started. The military should focus on those activities for which they have a comparative advantage, leaving the actual delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as most reconstruction activities, to local and international organizations that have long experience and established relationships in Afghanistan.

The single greatest contribution that the ISAF can make to Afghan reconstruction is to help the Interim Authority establish, train and monitor a professional national security force. Beyond this, the military may bring useful expertise in other clearly defined areas, such as weapons collection, disposal of unexploded ordnance, and the restoration of airports and other important transportation infrastructure.