Crisis Diplomacy at the Crossroads: Afghanistan and the Macro Region

April 27^th, 2012 by Afghan Mission

On Thursday evening at Princeton University, the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton, the Woodrow Wilson School and Near Eastern Studies, co-sponsored a panel discussion, “Crisis Diplomacy at the Crossroads: Afghanistan and the Macro Region.”  The panel featured H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin, Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN and was moderated by Wolfgang Danspeckgruber, LISD Director.

Ambassador Tanin explained the historical context of Afghanistan in both the immediate and extended region, and discussed the importance of regional cooperation on the way forward for Afghanistan.  He described the process of transition to Afghan ownership and leadership, noting that the security transition is on the verge of beginning its third phase. He noted that the international community and Afghanistan need to focus on normalizing the security situation, the political and social situation, and the international presence in Afghanistan.

As the Afghan forces assume control of the country and take the lead, the recently finalized Strategic Partnership Agreement that will be highly discussed at the Chicago NATO Summit in May will be a big step toward establishing the future role of the US beyond 2014.  Ambassador Tanin made it clear that, “Afghanistan will continue to require assistance from the international community, particularly with regard to the training and support of Afghan forces.”  Ambassador Tanin has echoed many international stakeholders in stating that success in Afghanistan requires maintaining international support well beyond 2014.

Afghanistan’s immediate neighbors are crucial components in security and stability in the country and region, as well as several countries in the macro region, particularly, Russia, China and India, which hold a great deal of influence.

During these crucial moments in Afghanistan, Ambassador Tanin said there are two choices, “first is working only with the region and second is working with both its international partners and the region.  Recognizing the needs in an interconnected and global world, we realize that the best option to help Afghanistan and the region is the second.”

April 22, 2012

The draft agreement on Afghanistan and US long term partnership was finalized and initialed on Sunday in Kabul by the heads of the two negotiating delegations in Kabul.

Officially concluded on Sunday, the agreement is now ready for signature by both the Presidents.

At a ceremony in the National Security Council, the document known as “Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between Afghanistan and the United States” was initialed as “final” by Afghanistan National Security Advisor Dr. Spanta and US ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker.

In a short statement after the exchange of the copies, Dr. Spanta congratulated the two countries on the achievement, which he said took more than one and half years of hard work. “The document finalized today provides a strong foundation for the security of Afghanistan, the region and the world and is a document for the development of the region.”

Pointing to the months-long efforts put into charting out the agreement, Dr. Spanta said the Traditional Loya Jirga took Afghanistan’s consultation process on the document to a historic level.

He also informed that on Monday, Foreign Minister Rasoul was expected to brief the Senate and himself the Lower House on the overall content of the document.

He said the partnership agreement, once signed by the two Presidents, shall be sent to the National Assembly for passing and then to the President for final signature into a legal document for publication in the official gazette.

US Ambassador too delivered a statement in the occasion thanking the two negotiating teams as “superb”. Ambassador Crocker referred to the negotiations as one of the most difficult ones, “I have been involved in many international negotiations, I can say without doubt, I have never encountered a tougher negotiator as you (Afghan team)”,

He said the Agreement cements a long-term strategic partnership between “two equal and sovereign States” affirming the commitment that his country through the strategic partnership document would do its utmost to assist Afghans and the further development Afghanistan as “a unified, democratic, stable and secure state.”

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