Five senior members and the Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly travelled to Afghanistan Sept. 29-Oct. 2 for meetings with senior Afghan and international officials.
The delegation, led by Dutch Member of Parliament, Hendrik Jan Ormel, discussed military strategy Internatioal Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Gen. Stanley McChrystal. They also reviewed the current political situation in the wake of the inconclusive Aug. 20 presidential elections with the Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, the Ministers of Defence and Interior, and senior U.N. and diplomatic representatives. Finally, the delegation visited the Afghan National Military Academy, observing training maneuvers and interacting with cadets.
After three days of discussions in Kabul, the delegation travelled to Mazar-E Sharif, where members heard the ISAF Regional Commander’s situational assessment, spoke with regional U.N. staff, and visited a regional coordination centre for Afghan security forces as well as a Provincial Reconstruction Team led by Sweden.
Defence and Security Committee Rapporteur and British parliamentarian Frank Cook said, ” “I came to Afghanistan in near despair over the challenges faced by Afghan and international forces there. However, several areas of progress, and detailed briefings on the strategy going forward, have made me believe that the plan can work if given a chance. And while there will be higher risk in the short term, no one can stand on the sideline: every nation should give the best of its contribution to this worthy cause.”
What the delegation learned during the visit is intended to inform discussions at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session, scheduled for Nov. 13-17 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom; in particular, British MP Frank Cook will present a report and policy recommendations on Afghanistan to the Defence and Security Committee.