Building a Nation

JIM LEHRER:

And now to Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. He's one of six Afghan cabinet ministers in Washington this week. Mr. Minister, welcome.

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Thank you.

JIM LEHRER:

Do you know yet what happened in terms of that attack on the wedding party?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

We are still not in a position to talk about the results of the investigation, which are being carried out. But we are sure that there is a thorough investigation going on, on that issue. The result might be that some errors, which takes place in military campaign, but I think what is important is to focus on the future operations to avoid those mistakes, if there were mistakes during the operation.

JIM LEHRER:

Do you have a view that… whether or not this was the result of warlord competition, bad information given to U.S. forces?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

No, I don't think so. And we have not received any evidence of such an issue, that it was based on misinformation or misreading by one of the groups against another. We are not of that view.

JIM LEHRER:

So it's more likely, from your perspective at least, based on what you know, that it was just a mistake made by U.S. forces, they didn't realize what the target was and they made a mistake, is that it?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Most probably, yes.

JIM LEHRER:

You heard what some of the folks said in that taped piece about how this incident may have undermined the Afghan people's view of the United States. What's your assessment of that?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Two issues shouldn't be mixed up. One is the willingness and the determination of the Afghan people and the Afghan government to continue cooperation with the coalition forces, the United States, in the war against terror. That's that.

That commitment is full, and that will continue as long as the threat exists there in Afghanistan. The other issue is the anger of the people — if civilian casualties takes place. It is understandable. And people should be assured, the people of Afghanistan, should be assured that every measure, every step have been taken in order to avoid, in order to prevent those mistakes.

And the focus of attention from now on should be on the results of the investigation, if there were errors, then I think there should be a review of how things are conducted.

JIM LEHRER:

Are you satisfied the United States is going to do that?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

I'm absolutely sure about it because these concerns are common concerns once we have civilian losses, casualties of innocent people, it is an area of common concern for us and for our partners in the United States.

JIM LEHRER:

Now, to the assassination of the vice president. Do you know yet who did that?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

That issue is still not clear. One can speculate about the possible people which might have carried out the assassination, enemies of peace and stability, members of al-Qaida or the al-Qaida network, drug lords. These are the possible suspects behind it. But there, as well, the results of the investigation have not taken us to particular conclusion.

JIM LEHRER:

Now, who's running that investigation?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

That is being done by the ISOF forces, as well as…

JIM LEHRER:

That's the peacekeeping forces.

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Yes, as well as the ministry of interior.

JIM LEHRER:

Now, Mr. Karzai has asked the United States to help out on his security. What's the status of that? Does he fear for his own life?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

It is, rather than fearing for the life, it is to enhance the security measures for the president and other leaders. Certainly our people need assistance in that regard.

The asking for a number of U.S. forces in the presidential palace would not only provide security for the president and his personnel on a temporary basis, but also provide training facilities for the Afghan personnel, so in some times to come, the Afghan personnel will be responsible for the security of the president.

JIM LEHRER:

What does all this say about the state of safety in Kabul and within the government?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Afghanistan is a country which has been in war for 23 years, or more than 23 years. It was ruled just a few months ago by al-Qaida, virtually all of Afghanistan, or most parts of the country. And the problems of the country have not been solved yet. Security is a problem everywhere in our neighboring countries and elsewhere.

In Afghanistan, it needs focus and attention. The answer to the security problem in mid term and long term is to help the Afghans to build security institutions like national police force, national army, reviving the judicial system, demobilization of the forces which belong to different armies. These are the answers in mid term and long term.

JIM LEHRER:

Is that being done? Is that on course?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

That hasn't started. And the United States is leading the efforts in creation of the national army, the first battalion, which was trained by the United States, the training concluded two days ago. Those efforts will continue. The international community as a whole have made commitment in helping Afghanistan to build security institutions.

JIM LEHRER:

Separate from the security issue, how would you describe the governing authority of your government now? How much power do you have, and how is it being exercised? And how comfortable are you with the state of this? In other words, how much in control is the government?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

The integration of the central government in different parts of the country is one of our priorities. There are areas in the country which are ruled by the local authorities with some loyalty to the central government or loyalty to the central government, but it is not a proper rule. Administratively we need to integrate. And this is one of our priorities. While security wise, as well, some local authorities, they have military forces at their command. They should be integrated into national army, and the efforts in that field has already started.

JIM LEHRER:

Now, in addition to governmental support, security support, that sort of thing, you and your colleagues who are here in Washington now, you want economic support, you want more than just… than weapons and soldiers, correct?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Definitely and surely. Thanks to Georgetown University and Daimler-Chrysler and other private sector for organizing the event in Washington yesterday and today. That's the summit, Afghanistan-America summit on reconstruction and recovery.

The Afghan side as well as the American side interacted in very constructive way: What are the ways of speeding up the assistances to Afghanistan, as well as facilitating foreign investment to Afghanistan? Afghanistan is a country, which has the potential that, in some years, in five years, six years from now, it will be a country which can stand on its own feet, rather than foreign assistances. So the potential, the opportunity is there, and this summit provided a unique opportunity in that respect.

JIM LEHRER:

A lot of countries, including the United States, made a lot of promises to you, to your country, and to your new government, economically and otherwise. Are they being kept?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

If I'm saying that… yes, the United States' position is unique in that regard in that it has kept its promises to a large extent. But I think even here in the United States, being in Washington, I had to emphasize it more, and hopefully this week we will have good news from the Congress by approving $150 million supplementary assistances to Afghanistan.

JIM LEHRER:

If you had to name one thing you need the most, your country needs the most right now, what is it?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

It is support, in security and reconstruction.

JIM LEHRER:

And you feel that you're on the road, you feel like people don't understand the need, or do you feel they're just… it's not there? What's the state of getting there?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

From the money which was pledged for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, a part of it has been disbursed, but it has been mainly in terms of humanitarian assistances not reconstruction assistances. It is time to move into reconstruction phase.

That's, I think, the point, today's point. In security sector, I think one country alone cannot take the whole responsibility of reviving the security detail in Afghan. It's time for the international community to live up with their commitments in that regard, and we not only emphasized on the role of the United States in these aspects, but also we expect the United States to mobilize the international community to move fast and to seize the opportunity which is there in Afghanistan.

JIM LEHRER:

All right, Mr. Minister, thank you very much.

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH:

Thank you.