Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has become a problem rather than part of the solution, the country’s top opposition leader says.
“In terms of Karzai government in itself it has turned into a problem rather than being part of the solution. That's I think the main challenge for the people of Afghanistan as well as friends of Afghanistan, the international community through the United States,” Abdullah Abdullah told the Charlie Rose show on PBS Monday night.
Chairman of the Coalition for Hope and Change, Abdullah is currently on a 10-day visit to Washington during which he is scheduled to address a number of think tanks, meet top Congressional leaders and officials of the Obama administration.
Defeated by Karzai in the 2009 Afghan presidential elections, Abdullah says the purpose of his trip is to familiarize the opinion builders and policy makers in Washington about the ground realities in Afghanistan. He is also scheduled to address the World Islamic Forum Conference being held in Washington.
In his first television appearance Monday night, Abdullah warned that it would be difficult to meet the much anticipated transition deadline. This he attributed mainly to the alleged failure of the current government.
Abdullah urged the Obama administration to revisit its Afghan policies so that to the people of Afghanistan it is proved that the support is not just one person or one group of people but rather the people of Afghanistan.
“In today's situation the people are thinking, the Afghans are thinking that whatever happens, the United States will be supportive of Mr. Karzai and his government and the parliament of the people of Afghanistan. I'm not saying that this is the actual case but this is the perception of the people of Afghanistan. And that needs to be changed,” he said.
“I would say that rather than jumping into the idea of reconciling with the Taliban on the idea of helping Afghanistan to establish a democratic system in a functioning government, try to stand by the process and also regain the trust of the people of Afghanistan, because in today's situation, the lack of trust between the people and the government of Afghanistan, between the government of Afghanistan and the international community, the international community and the people of Afghanistan has created a confusing situation that the enemies of all of us, the enemies of the people of Afghanistan as well as the international community are the capitalizing on this and Taliban are gaining strength,” he observed.
Abdullah alleged that Karzai would try some unconstitutional means to stay in power after the expiration of his current term in 2014. As Karzai's main opponent during the 2009 Afghan presidential elections, Abdullah won 31 percent of legitimate votes in the first round, choosing not to stand in the second round, citing fraud.
A former member of Karzai's cabinet before being discharged, Abdullah has come out as a strong critic of Karzai, highlighting the chasm between Karzai and the Afghan public due to widespread corruption in Karzai's administration and the ongoing insurgency.
In his address to the Asia Society on Monday, his first speaking assignment in Washington, Abdullah shared his knowledge of the current situation including challenges and developments towards the potential for engagement with vested elements. He also underlined how the political process can be impelled to move forward towards a solution.
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