European Parliament calls for new exit strategy from Afghanistan

2010-11-10 05:59:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

BRUSSELS (BNO NEWS) -- The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday called for a new European Union (EU) exit strategy from Afghanistan as the coalition forces have failed in maintaining security in the region.

MEPs said that the military intervention has even led to a deterioration of security and in the socio-economic situation in Afghanistan as coalition forces miscalculated their options. the European Parliament proposed the creation of a new exit strategy shaped in conjunction with the Afghans and event the Taliban at the negotiation table.

Coalition forces have been involved in Afghanistan for almost a decade and local residents still perceive them as an occupying force. A more balanced civilian and military approach is needed, including more concrete measures to end poverty and discrimination against women.

The new EU strategy for Afghanistan should contain four key factors: improving coordination of international aid; involve Afghans in the peace process; improving the quality of police training; and combating the cultivation of opium.

"The presence of the Taliban was underestimated, the ability of the Karzai government to provide governance overestimated, and as a result, little attention was paid to the task of rebuilding and developing the country", the MEPs said.

The MEP's also said that the only possible solution for Afghanistan is the political one that should include negotiations in case of a ceasefire with the Taliban and other rebels. Reportedly, the Taliban have shown their will to end the armed conflict in the area.

The Parliament also called for an improved international cooperation for the training of Afghan police forces and proposed a joint EU-NATO training program. The establishment of an operative national police is a requisite of the coalition forces in order to withdraw from the country.

To stop the abuse of International aid funds its necessary to setting up a centralized database for all EU aid in order to prevent waste of resources, excessive intermediary and security costs, overbilling and corruption.

MEPs also called for efforts to phase out opium cultivation by the four million Afghans that live from such crops by promoting alternative crops such as saffron.They called for a five-year plan to switch to the mentioned alternative crops and implemented by a new agency to be created with its own budget and staff.

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Get out of there now, don`t die for 9/11 and Haliburton pipeline