US Ambassador To NATO Sees Commitment To Afghanistan As Long ...

INTERVIEW
Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, a former senator, is the permanent representative of the United States to NATO. In an interview with Radio Free Afghanistan, she says the alliance is committed to Afghanistan until its people have the right conditions to build their country with freedom and equality of life.

RFE/RL: The Taliban have recently announced their spring offensive, vowing to attack in their words the Americans and their internal supporters. Do you see this as a rejection of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s unconditional and generous peace offer earlier this year?

Kay Bailey Hutchison: I am, of course, disappointed that the Taliban is talking about a spring offensive, and all of the terrorism that the people of Afghanistan have endured is very troubling and so sad that they have to go through this. I don’t think it’s a rejection. I think the Taliban are floundering. I think they have seen now a will of the people to stand up for their country. You see Afghan fighters who are doing such a good job. When we were there just at the end of February this year, every one of the divisions with the trainers from our NATO allies talked about how good the Afghan fighters were and committed for their own country’s freedom and the future.

The Taliban is now talking a lot behind the scenes, a lot of people in the tribes who know who the Taliban fighters are. It’s not an encouraging sign that they are going to attack; nevertheless, there is a resolve by President Ghani that he’s made an offer, he’s put it on the table that the violence must stop, and we must come to the table and talk about what’s good for Afghanistan. He is not giving up, and neither are the allies that are supporting the people of Afghanistan for a life that they could not imagine they could have, but which they now see in their future.

RFE/RL: Regarding the U.S. South Asia strategy, more than seven months ago President Trump said Pakistan harbored terrorist groups on its soil. Islamabad denies this. Has Pakistan changed its policies toward the U.S. and Afghanistan in the region?

Hutchison: It’s time Pakistan became a real contributor to the stabilization of Afghanistan. We think it could do more. We know they have familial ties with people in Afghanistan. But they have the ability to stop the terrorist networks from trafficking between Afghanistan and Pakistan. They have the ability to have a say with the Haqqani network and the Taliban. To see this destructive behavior is not a positive. It’s not a positive for Afghanistan, but it’s not a positive for Pakistan [either].

Pakistan needs to realize they are in danger of being isolated by the international community, [which] wants the stabilization of Afghanistan, and they expect Pakistan to be a leader in that effort.” - Read More
U.S. Ambassador To NATO Sees Commitment To Afghanistan As Long-Term