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Why is America Failing in Afghanistan?

- DR. Abdul-Qayum Mohmand

Analysis of “CIA World Factbook” (1981-2012): Dimensions of anti-Pashtun Conspirac

Afghan Fury at Planned Pakistan Pact
What Happens When the U.S. Leaves Afghanistan?
Trying to leave Afghanistan proves to be as troublesome as being there: A Closer Look
Afghanistan: “It’s Just Damage Limitation Now”
Zero Dark Thirty Review-Analysis; Eleven Instances of Disinformation
Why is America Failing in Afghanistan?
 
 
 
US forces in Afghanistan nearly destroyed vital airfield
We Are Those Two Afghan Children, Killed by NATO While Tending Their Cattle
Former Islamist Warlord Vies for Afghan Presidency
Pakistan releases top Afghan Taliban prisoner in effort to boost peace process
Losing the War in Afghanistan
Obama’s troop increase for Afghan war was misdirected
Afghan security vacuum feared along "gateway to Kabul"
Objections to U.S. Troops Intensify in Afghanistan
The Great Afghan corruption scam
War zone killing: Vets feel 'alone' in their guilt
Was Osama for Real? And Was He Killed in 2001?
Afghanistan withdrawal: The risks of retreat
The Real Reason the US Invaded Afghanistan
The Definition of a Quagmire
Huge Uncertainty' in Afghanistan
Controversial ID Cards Expose Ethnic Divisions In Afghanistan
Afghanistan: The Final Curtain Call for NATO?
Afghanistan After 9/11: A Mission Unaccomplished
Why Should Taliban and Other Insurgents Refrain from Negotiation With the US & NATO? By: Dr Mohammed Daud Miraki, MA, MA, Ph

Exclusive: Karzai family looks to extend boss rule in Afghanistan.

Intrigue in Karzai Family as an Afghan Era Closes
For Afghans, Two Outrages, Two Different Reactions
Double blow to west’s Afghan strategy
Does the Taliban need a diplomatic voice?
Afghanistan: Lessons in War and Peace-building for US
Afghan women opposed by former allies
Q+A - Haqqani: From White House guest to staunch U.S. enemy
Haqqanis: Growth of a militant network -BBC
Afghanistan shelves plans for ambassador accused of fraud
Afghan nominated as ambassador to Britain was accused in US of fraud
U.S. deal with Taliban breaks down
The Loneliness of the Afghan President: Karzai on His Own

NATO's Third Alternative in Afghanistan

On the Road: Interview with Commander Abdul Haq:- The Tragedy of Abdul Haq
When the Lion Roared: How Abdul Haq Almost Saved Afghanistan
AFGHAN WARRIOR: THE LIFE & DEATH OF ABDUL HAQ
Pakistan’s ISI: Undermining Afghan self-determination since 1948
Mineral Wealth of Afghanistan, Military Occupation, Corruption and the Rights of the Afghan People
M. Siddieq Noorzoy
Why Isn’t the UN Investigating and Prosecuting the U.S. and NATO for War Crimes Committed in Afghanistan?
Corruption and Warlordism:
Abdul Basir Stanikzai
In Afghanistan, U.S. contracts aren’t crystal balls, but they come close
The great Afghan carve-up
Anatomy of an Afghan war tragedy
Terry Jones Actually Burns a Qur’an and No One Notices
Q+A-Are Afghan forces ready to take over security?
Guantánamo Bay files rewrite the story of Osama bin Laden's Tora Bora escape
Winning Afghan hearts, minds with explosives
Afghanistan’s Mercenaries
KABUL’S HORIZONS
Who is winning Afghanistan war? U.S. officials increasingly disagree
Afghanistan: The Trouble With The Transition
From the Archives: In Quest of a ‘Greater Tajikistan’
The 1980s mujahideen, the Taliban and the shifting idea of jihad
Afghanistan's Karzai complains about interference
Karzai, US ambassador at odds over private security

Karzai Tells Washington Post U.S. Should Reduce Afghan Operation Intensity

Excerpts from Afghan President Hamid Karzai's interview with The Washington Post
What the Afghans Want
New US approach to Afghanistan insurgency: Vindication for Pakistan?
Putting Some Fight Into Our Friends
Afghans 'abused at secret prison
Why We Won’t Leave Afghanistan or Iraq
Indo-Pakistan proxy war heats up in Afghanistan
Canada’s elite commandos and the invasion of Afghanistan
U.S. retreat from Afghan valley marks recognition of blunder
Five myths about the war in Afghanistan
Marine who resigned over ‘conscience’ speaks at MU
The Afghan media may have grown since Taliban rule ended, but not so press freedoms
Mystery holes and angry ants: another Afghan day
Kabul Bank's Sherkhan Farnood feeds crony capitalism in Afghanistan
Marjah War
Operation Moshtarak: Which way the war in Afghanistan?
Q&A: Why Marjah, why now?
In Jalalabad, hope is fading
Seeking reconciliation, US units meet remote Afghanistan tribes
Once Again, Get the Hell Out! "Ending the War in Afghanistan"
Blackwater Kept a Prostitute on the Payroll in Afghanistan; Fraudulently Billed American Tax Payers
Wild West Motif Lightens US Mood at Afghan Bas
In southern Afghanistan, even the small gains get noticed
 Afghanistan war: US tries to undercut Taliban at tribal level
 Soviet lessons from Afghanistan
Are actions of 'super-tribe' an Afghan tipping point
Taliban: Terrorist or not? Not always easy to say
Q&A: Who else could help in Afghanistan?
Vietnam Replay on Afghan 'Defectors'
Washington's Refusal to Talk about Drone Strikes in Pakistan Meets Growing Opposition
Afghanistan summit: Why is the US backing talks with the Taliban?
Taliban's leadership council runs Afghan war from Pakistan
Why buy the Taliban?
2 Afghanistan conferences: No solutions
An Alternative to Endless War - Negotiating an Afghan Agreement?
Do the Taliban represent the Pashtuns?
Afghanistan asks ex-presidential contender to tackle corruption

Tehran Sets Conditions For Attending London Conference On Afghanista

Pakistan says reaches out to Afghan Taliban
Taking It to the Taliban
The Afghan Taliban's top leaders
How significant is Mullah Baradar's arrest?
Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban’s Top Commander
What's the Quetta Shura Taliban and why does it matter?
What's behind latest Taliban attack on Kabul? See Images of the Attack By WSJ

Pakistan Version of Islam and Taliban ?????
Lahore fashion week takes on Talibanization in Pakistan

Loyalties of Those Killed in Afghan Raid Remain Unclear

After Attack, Afghans Question Motives or See Conspiracies
Gates: Taliban part of Afghan ‘political fabric’

IG: Afghan power-plant project ill-conceived, mismanaged

Taliban intensifies Afghan PR campaign

Taliban Overhaul Their Image in Bid to Win Allies
Karzai plans to woo Taliban with 'land, work and pensions'
Peace scheme mooted for Taliban
Bombs and baksheesh
But By All Means, Continue the Happy Talk on the Afghanistan War
Karzai Closing in on Taliban Reconciliation Plan
Last Exit Kabul
How To Get Out Without Forsaking Afghanistan's Stability
Afghan Recovery Report: Taleban Buying Guns From Former Warlords

'Jesus Guns': Two More Countries Rethink Using Weapons with Secret Bible References

Gun bible quotes 'inappropriate'
Text of Joint declaration of Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan trilateral meeting
Garmsir Protest Shows Taleban Reach
Rugged North Waziristan harbors US enemies
The Arrogance of Empire, Detailed ( The Untold Story of Afghanistan )
Appointment of Afghan counter narcotics chief dismays British officials
In Afghanistan attack, CIA fell victim to series of miscalculations about informant
Rebuilding Afghanistan: Will government take hold in this post-Taliban town?
Rare bird discovered in Afghan mountains
Blackwater, now called Xe, in running for work in Afghanistan despite legal woes
How Soviet troops stormed Kabul palace
Afghan children 'die in fighting'
Afghanistan war: Russian vets look back on their experience
U.N. Officials Say American Offered Plan to Replace Karzai 
Learning From the Soviets
U.S. faults Afghan corruption body's independence
Intensify fight against corruption, says Afghan meeting
Afghan ministers cleared of charges
Drone aircraft in a stepped-up war in Afghanistan and Pakistan
U.S. Air Force Confirms 'Beast of Kandahar' Secret Stealth Drone Plane
Kissinger's fantasy is Obama's realit
Taliban shadow officials offer concrete alternative
Talking with the Taliban
20. Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart
'Yes, there was torture and people were certainly beaten': Afghan warden
Why we should leave Afghanistan
US pours millions into anti-Taliban militias in Afghanistan
Pakistan to US: Don't surge in Afghanistan, talk to Taliban
A Plan C for Afghanistan
Finding decent cabinet is Karzai's big challenge
A way to get around Karzai in Afghanistan
Corruption fight boosted by 'Afghan FBI'
US demands Afghan 'bribery court'
Afghanistan plans court for corrupt ministers
The man leading Afghanistan's anti-corruption fight
Win hearts and minds in Afghanistan to win the war
Gates blocks abuse photos release
New U.S. Afghan prison unveiled, rights groups wary
War in Afghanistan: Not in our name
How the US Funds the Taliban
Afghan gov't says UN representative out of line
Cabinet of Warlords
Afghanistan and the lessons of history
Clinton says Karzai ‘must do better’
Recognizing the Limits of American Power in Afghanistan
After Afghanistan election, governors seek distance from 'illegal' Karzai
Karzai was hellbent on victory. Afghans will pay the price
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America's Top Diplomat Tells 'Nightline': 'Not Every Taliban Is al Qaeda'
Obama Can’t Make Russian Mistake in Afghanistan
10 Steps to Victory in Afghanistan
Will Obama change Afghan strategy?
Does the U.S. still have a vital interest in Afghanistan?
Pashtuns and Pakistani
The Afghan '80s are back
Pashtun peace prophet goes global
Afghan Road Builder's Dream Thwarted by Violence
A white elephant in Kabul
The Afghan Runoff: Will It Be a No-Show Election?

Ashraf Ghani- Afghanistan's Disputed Election Complicates U.S. Strategy

On Assignment: Into the Maw at Marja

Patrick Witty & Tyler Hicks
The New York Times


Afghanistan Cross Road CNN


The last frontier


Bruce Richardson
 

Articles

CIA: Buying peace in Afghanistan?

With Bags of Cash, C.I.A. Seeks Influence in Afghanistan
CIA Ghost Money: Karzai Confirms U.S. Gives Funds To Afghan National Security Team
What the CIA’s cash has bought for Afghanistan

Khalilzad: A Satan Whispering in the Hearts of Men
The Afghan trust deficitt
Will We Learn Anything from Afghanistan? Part 1
Getting Out of Afghanistan: Part 2
William R. Polk
General’s Defense on Afghan Scandal Ducks Key Evidence
Afghans want Taliban peace talks
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Hekmatyar's never-ending Afghan war
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Afghan brain drain fears as Karzai urges education reforms

US considers launching joint US-Afghan raids in Pakistan to hunt down militant groups

Real security in Afghanistan depends on people's basic needs being met
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Former Taliban Officials Say U.S. Talks Started
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Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Daoud Sultanzoy, Tolo Television
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BFP Exclusive: Karzai Clan Attorney Threatens US Journalist, Uses Intimidation Tactics
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A comment on the recent events of student poisoning in Afghanistan
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A Federal System of Government is Not Suitable for Afghanistan
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Troops 'fighting for UK's future'
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Covering Crucial Afghanistan Operation
Afghans still skeptical about Obama
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Afghanistan on the Edge
Q+A: Who are the Pakistani Taliban insurgents?
Afghanistan Past & Present
Bombs for Pashtoons and Dollars for Punjab
Help! I'm being outgunned on K Street!
ANGELS CHASING DEMONS: “Jesus Killed Mohammad”!
U.S. tested 2 Afghan scenarios in war game
America's Top Diplomat Tells 'Nightline': 'Not Every Taliban Is al Qaeda'
Obama hearing range of views on Afghanistan
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Will Obama change Afghan strategy?
What Do Afghans Want? Withdrawal - But Not Too Fast - and A Negotiated Peace
Afghans tricked into U.S. trip, detained
In the Afghan War, Aim for the Middle
Obama pulled two ways in Afghanistan
Obama Can’t Make Russian Mistake in Afghanistan
10 Steps to Victory in Afghanistan
Gates: Mistake to set time line for Afghan withdrawal
Afghans question what democracy has done for them
High stakes in Afghan vote recount
Two Perspectives On Resolving The Afghan Postelection Crisis
Does the U.S. still have a vital interest in Afghanistan?
Pashtuns and Pakistanis
The Afghan '80s are back
How to Lose in Afghanistan
US in Afghanistan proposes revamped strategy
US 'needs fresh Afghan strategy'
US looks to Vietnam for Afghan tips
Lessons from Vietnam on Afghanistan
Afghan Pres. Skips Country's 1st TV Debate
A proud moment for Afghanistan
Rival to Karzai Gains Strength in Afghan Presidential Election
Afghan presidential candidate withdraws in Karzai's favor
America and international law
Hamid Karzai pulls out of historic TV debate just hours before broadcast
Karzai says no to first Afghanpresidential debate
Afghan election: Can Karzai's rivals close the gap?
Karzai opponents hope to beat him in second round
Afghanistan's Election Challenges
For Karzai, Stumbles On Road To Election
Pentagon Seeks to Overhaul Prisons in Afghanistan
Cruel human toll of fight to win Afghan peace
Karzai’s gimmick
Well-known traffickers set free ahead of election
US president sets Afghan target
U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died
Why the Pentagon Axed Its Afghanistan Warlord
Earn our trust or go, Afghans tell GIs
The Irresistible Illusion
Running Out Of Options, Afghans Pay For an Exit
We've lost sight of our goal in Afghanistan
$2,000 for a dead Afghan Child, $100,000 for Any American Who Died Killing it
The strategy is sound – but success is not assured
Operation in Taliban hotbed a test for revamped U.S. strategy
Covering Crucial Afghanistan Operation
Pentagon Seeks to Overhaul Prisons in Afghanistan
Echoes of Vietnam
A Response To General Dostum
Obama orders probe of killings in Afghanistan
Obama admin: No grounds to probe Afghan war crimes
US president sets Afghan target
U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.’s Died
Afghanistan's Election Challenges
The Irresistible Illusion
Earn our trust or go, Afghans tell GIs
Running Out Of Options, Afghans Pay For an Exit

We've lost sight of our goal in Afghanistan

The strategy is sound – but success is not assured
Stakes High in Afghanistan Ahead of August Elections
$2,000 for a dead Afghan Child, $100,000 for Any American Who Died Killing it
Ex-detainees allege Bagram abuse
Petraeus Is a Failure -- Why Do We Pretend He's Been a Success?
Fierce Battles and High Casualties on the Frontlines of Afghanistan
End the Illegal, Immoral and Wasted War in Afghanistan, says BNP Defence Spokesman
Outside View: Four revolutions
Pakistan's Plans for New Fight Stir Concern
France: liberty, equality, and fraternity – but no burqas
 

 

 

 

 

Echoes of Vietnam

Even the Coalition commanders in Afghanistan wonder if they can win the war
Will history repeat itself in Afghanistan?

British military intervention in Afghanistan has a chequered history, making it easy to conclude that British forces will fail again


 

Afghanistan's Disputed Election Complicates U.S. Strategy

Afghanistan's Disputed Election Complicates U.S. Strategy

Source: PBS

Ashraf Ghani
Former Afghan Presidential Candidate

Afghans have lost trust in the credibility of the process. They would rather have a bad government than no government at all, because the risk of uncertainty takes a huge toll.

As President Obama develops a new Afghanistan strategy, rising violence there and an unresolved election have combined to sap public support for the war. Ashraf Ghani, who was one of Afghanistan's presidential candidates, discusses his country's future.

JIM LEHRER: Finally tonight, our newsmaker interview with former Afghan official and presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani.

Margaret Warner is in charge.

MARGARET WARNER: For the fifth time in recent weeks, President Obama called in his national security team at the White House today to continue their reassessment of Afghan war strategy.

Earlier today, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown went to the House of Commons to announce that despite mounting British deaths in Afghanistan, he was sending an additional 350 troops there.

GORDON BROWN, prime minister, Britain: The combination of force levels, equipment levels, and tasks that I'm setting out today follows the clear military advice from our chiefs of staff and from our commanders on the ground on implementing our strategy and reducing the risk to our forces. And it's on this basis that I have agreed in principle to a new British force level of 9,500, which will be put into effect once these conditions are met.

MARGARET WARNER: The U.S. ground commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has recommended President Obama send many more American troops, up to tens of thousands more, according to reports.

But, yesterday, the president indicated his decision is still some time off.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We are going through a very deliberate process that is completely consistent with what I said back in March. After the election, I said it was important for us to reassess the situation on the ground. And that's what we're doing, not just on the military side, but also on the civilian side.

I would expect that we will have a completion of this current process in the coming weeks.

MARGARET WARNER: One of the factors going into his decision, but still unknown, is who will be president of Afghanistan in the next five years.

Last month, Afghan election officials declared President Hamid Karzai had won 54.6 percent of the vote in the August presidential contest, enough for reelection. But the entire process was marred by widespread allegations of fraud.

More than 3,000 polling stations were deemed to have reported questionable results, for example, all ballots cast for the same single candidate. Ten percent of those questionable ballot boxes are now being audited. The results are expected by the end of this week.

If they show Karzai fell below 50 percent, he would face a runoff against second-place finisher Abdullah Abdullah.

Another Karzai opponent in the race was former World Bank official and Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani. He ran on a platform of good governance. Ghani served in Karzai's original cabinet, but quit five years ago, alleging corruption and mismanagement.

Though his campaign was managed by former Clinton political guru James Carville, Ghani came in a distant fourth.

MARGARET WARNER: Ashraf Ghani is in Washington this week for a series of meetings. And he joins us now for his assessment of where Afghanistan goes from here.

Mr. Ghani, thank you for returning to this table.

ASHRAF GHANI, former Afghanistan presidential candidate: Pleasure to be with you.

Afghans have lost trust in the credibility of the process. They would rather have a bad government than no government at all, because the risk of uncertainty takes a huge toll.

Uncertainty taking a 'toll'

MARGARET WARNER: As we just said, all of Washington is awaiting this election recount result -- could come tomorrow, could come Friday.

What confidence should we have, what confidence do you have that the result will be seen as credible, whatever it is?

ASHRAF GHANI: Unfortunately, it's a situation where no institution associated with the election now is viewed as neutral by the two main parties.

So, regardless of the decision that is taken, one side or the other is likely to question it, unless there have been serious discussions in the last 24 hours between Mr. Karzai and Mr. Abdullah to arrive at some sort of consensus. If that takes place, then the results could be acceptable. Otherwise, the adherents to one party or the other are likely to question it.

MARGARET WARNER: So, do you think it's a good idea for Karzai and Abdullah to come to some agreement?

ASHRAF GHANI: What is important is that the people are haunted by risk of violence. People are really concerned about the specter of '91-'96, when every street was controlled by a different group.

MARGARET WARNER: Which set the stage for the Taliban takeover.

ASHRAF GHANI: Which set the stage for the Taliban takeover.

So, Afghans have lost trust in the credibility of the process. They would rather have a bad government than no government at all, because the risk of uncertainty takes a huge toll. And it has allowed criminal elements to fill a vacuum that the security forces and institutions of state do not attend to.

MARGARET WARNER: But, now, the constitution requires that if the two top finishers, neither gets 50 percent, they go to a runoff.

ASHRAF GHANI: That's correct.

MARGARET WARNER: Could that solve this?

ASHRAF GHANI: Not necessarily, because, again, when legitimacy is called into question, repeating an election with the same people and the same institutions, that is...

MARGARET WARNER: Running the election, running this election commission.

ASHRAF GHANI: Running the election -- becomes problematic, because, in the first round, the results were not problematic because they were fair. It is precisely because the machinery of the state, the government, was used in favor of one or the other candidate, and a lot of votes of other people were stolen.

You need to construct the framework that responds to the needs and aspirations of the Afghan people, that are simultaneously the requirements of our international partners.

Addressing corruption

MARGARET WARNER: All right, let me get to the deeper issue which the election has just become a metaphor for, and it's the thing you campaigned on. And that is the perception here of widespread corruption and mismanagement at every level of the Afghan government.

You ran on a platform of good governance. Give me three concrete things that actually could be done to end this cycle of self-dealing, which is what you have got going on there now.

ASHRAF GHANI: Yes. It would be very simple at one level..

First, all officials, the 3,000 top officials, who are appointed to the government should declare their assets. The assets should be verified by an independent civil society commission. And, every year, the assessment has to be renewed.

Two, all contracts for minerals -- Afghanistan is actually quite rich in mineral resources -- need to be brought under scrutiny, so that people know what's happening.

And, three, the key sources of revenue -- customs, for instance -- has to be managed through a public reporting card, where merchants and others actually see that the laws are applied and that those who bribe and take bribes, some of whom make $100,000 a day are brought under control.

MARGARET WARNER: But, now, when you were in government, you advocated measures like these, and you finally quit in disgust, saying President Karzai just wouldn't take any of this on.

So, under what circumstances could he now be brought, if he is to continue as president, be brought to recognizing and having the political will to do it?

ASHRAF GHANI: What is required is not to look at the person, but look at the framework.

In the last eight years, Mr. Karzai has been looked upon as a person. In the first three years, there was a framework that was provided by the U.N.-negotiated agreement. And, within that, he gained credibility, actually. And, in the last five years, because there was no framework of what needs to be done and how it needs to be done...

MARGARET WARNER: And that was after he was freely elected...

ASHRAF GHANI: After he was elected.

MARGARET WARNER: ... and there was no longer any under U.N. oversight.

ASHRAF GHANI: So, we need now, given the domestic concern about corruption and also the international concern about corruption, and particularly the concern from the military -- General McChrystal has really put his finger on the issue of good governance as the solution.

Then, you need to construct the framework that responds to the needs and aspirations of the Afghan people, that are simultaneously the requirements of our international partners.

MARGARET WARNER: So, is the U.S. -- as President Obama is considering this decision, I mean, is the U.S. in any position to insist on that kind of framework, to insist on those sorts of conditions?

ASHRAF GHANI: Yes, absolutely, because the U.S. is one of the largest providers of assistance? And it is American lives that suffer or are lost due to corruption.

General McChrystal is really clear that predatory government...

MARGARET WARNER: Predatory?

ASHRAF GHANI: Yes, and he uses the term -- is part of the problem, that ISAF needs to be as much concerned about political brokers and government officials who abuse their authority, and that there's a clear difference between political will and outright criminal behavior.

Unless Afghans agree to a series of sacrifices in order to secure our national interest, such a framework cannot be put together.

Building a new framework

MARGARET WARNER: Now, one of the possible vehicles that's been discussed as a way of the U.S. and the international community influencing a future Karzai presidency would be to have you be tapped to come back in, in a senior executive position, with actually to really clean house.

Have you been approached about this? Have you discussed it? Would you be willing to do it?

ASHRAF GHANI: The issue has been discussed. It's not new. The issue has been discussed over the last two years repeatedly.

And it did not reach conclusion, because the outcomes that are required for good governance and the authorities that are required for that could not be agreed upon.

What I have said is that I'm not interested in power. I am interested in results and would be willing to help put the framework that could give us a map of the future, particularly for the next 12 months, that are both critical for winning the confidence of the Afghan people and the confidence of our international partners, both Europe and the United States.

The public is now very concerned, and support is dropping. So, if -- unless Afghans agree to a series of sacrifices in order to secure our national interest, such a framework cannot be put together.

MARGARET WARNER: But you're saying the international community has to insist on it, and then President Karzai has to be willing to accept it?

ASHRAF GHANI: Yes.

MARGARET WARNER: Ashraf Ghani, thank you so much.

ASHRAF GHANI: Pleasure to be with you.

 

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