 Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday politely asked the United States to think about an exit strategy from Afghanistan.
| Thereby leaving Afghanistan in the care of Pakland... |
In an interview with the Washington Times, Aziz gave an implicit reminder that the US must leave Afghanistan eventually, in consultation with the Afghans, their neighbours and myriad stakeholders. "History is full of examples where we didn't focus too much on exit strategy," Aziz said. "A good exit strategy is one which leaves that country, that area, peaceful, economically and politically empowered. ... We are the most important stakeholder, and we are there for life. We cannot take off; countries cannot change their neighbours."
| Withdrawal from Iraq's on the table, so the Paks are looking forward to what comes next. |
The Times quoted the PM saying Pakistan, a key ally in the war on terror, welcomes an expected reappraisal of US policy in Iran and Afghanistan, and thinks military action alone is "not the answer" to the threat posed by extremists in the two countries."
| "We can handle things here. Y'all can go home and ummmm... do whatever it is you do." |
Shaukat Aziz told the newspaper that he would like to see a more nuanced approach to battling extremism, which includes massive investment and economic assistance to the two countries in order to build a sense of well-being for the poor and disenfranchised.
| Not only "get out and let us play the Great Game in Afghanistan," but "give us the money to do it." |
In New York for meetings at the United Nations, Aziz also said the world needs to focus more seriously on Afghanistan's narcotics trade, which is becoming an increasingly important source of terrorist financing. By some estimates, the trade accounts for half of Afghanistan's gross domestic product. An American commission headed by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Rep. Lee H. Hamilton is expected to recommend strategies for the Iraq war before year's end, a development that Mr. Aziz welcomed.
| ... since he expects them to be weak as water... |
"We believe that conflicts like Iraq, Afghanistan and so on need to be carefully reviewed because military action is not the answer or the solution to such a crisis," he said. "We must work on winning the hearts and minds of the people.
| Whenever they bring up the "hearts and minds" approach they don't want to do anything. "Hearts and minds" don't involve imposing your will on people. |
"We have to involve the people, to give them the sense that the world cares and their future tomorrow will be better than yesterday." |