Military commander outlines Afghan stability prospects

12 December 2005

The allied military commander charged with bringing security to Afghanistan, Lt-General Karl Eikenberry, spoke today at Chatham House about Afghanistan's future and the prospects for long-term stability in the region.

Lt-General Eikenberry, whose brief includes dealing with terrorism, drug-traffiking and the reconstruction of Afghanistan's infrastructure, said that allied forces had done 'reasonably well' in their mission to destroy Al-Qaeda's networks - including the removal of the Taliban.

Lt-General Eikenberry said that of all the challenges facing the country in the coming year, securing the border with Pakistan, was the most pressing. He said that there can be no peace or reduction in the levels of violence in Afghanistan or Pakistan in the east and in the south without some kind of rapprochement between the two countries.

Lt-General Eikenberry also welcomed NATO's increased involvement in Afghanistan and said that those countries involved in the reconstruction effort are more likely to be generous if they have forces at work in the country.

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