In Afghanistan and Pakistan, action must follow the words

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week visited the two most important countries in America’s war on global terrorism, acutely aware that the patience of people here and there is wearing thin. An increasing number of Americans are questioning the billions being spent in a war that has claimed more than 1,000 lives and resulted in thousands being injured. For their part, Afghans and Pakistanis are wondering whether the presence of foreign troops, led by the U.S., in their countries have put them at risk — as evidenced by the surge in suicide bombings and other acts of violence by Islamic extremists.

Clinton, in meetings with Pakistani and Afghan officials, and in remarks during a landmark conference in Kabul attended by representatives of about 70 countries, made it clear that substantive progress is essential to keep the public from totally withdrawing support for the war on terror.

“Citizens of many nations represented here, including my own, wonder whether success is even possible,” the secretary of state told the conference.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is under fire from the U.S. and its NATO allies for the widespread corruption that has come to define his government, insisted that his country is making progress with regard training of the national security forces. Karzai said Afghans will be ready to take over security responsibility throughout the country by 2014.

That timetable fits in nicely with President Obama’s pledge to being a draw down of troops from Afghanistan in July 2011.

But while the initiative announced by Karzai was hailed by conference participants, the issue of corruption in the central government and even in the provincial governments remains to be addressed. Because of the reluctance of the donors to let the central government handle the money, only $35 billion of the $40 billion that has been pledged since 2002 has been delivered.

Karzai, who asked for and received a commitment from the international donors to funnel at least half the annual international aid through Afghan government entities, pledged to fight corruption. According to the Los Angeles Times, the president will use such means as requiring government officials to declare their assets and strengthening the task force that has been created to crack down on graft to clean things up.

Losing faith

It is clear that the people of Afghanistan, who have not seen their lives markedly improved since the U.S. invasion nine years ago toppled the Islamic extremist Taliban government, are losing faith in the promise of a brighter future.

The NATO-led forces are having a difficult time ridding the nation of Taliban fighters, other Islamic extremist groups and members of al-Qaida, the world’s leading terrorist organization.

Al-Qaida’s leadership, including Osama bin Laden, have set up operations in the tribal areas in the mountains separating Pakistan and Afghanistan.

During her visit to Pakistan, Secretary of State Clinton, aware that public opinion against the U.S. is growing, announced a $500 million aid package. In return, she urged the government to crack down on militant groups that have been waging a campaign of death and destruction not only in Pakistan, but in Afghanistan.

Clinton also asked the Pakistanis for information about bin Laden’s whereabouts. It has long been suggested that elements of Pakistan’s intelligence agency are linked to al-Qaida.