As you may well be aware that a panel was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada Mr. Stephen Harper to undertake an independent study of Canada’s future role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction.
Mr. Johan Manley – a former cabinet minister and a respected politician in Canada was appointed to the task. On January 21, 2007 the final report of the independent panel was presented to Prime Minister and released to the media.
We are pleased to inform you that the report reflects the realities of the day and is for the benefit of the Afghan people and modern Afghan governance.
Pashtun Research Advocacy and Policy Centre has contributed its thoughts and analysis to the John Manley report on the future of Canada’s role in Afghanistan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
Over the last two months the PRAP chairman Yar Taraky has visited Ottawa on behalf of PRAP Canada and participated in meetings with the Manley panel, senior political advisors as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Honorable Mr. Maxime Bernier.
Most of our recommendations have found its place in the Manley report. Canada will stay committed to Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s rebuilding will continue with the humanitarian aid from Canada.
PRAP Canada has brought the following issues to the table
1. Canada is not an invading force. If Canada was an invading force the Afghan
people would fight until their withdrawal. What ever we see in the south of
the country is not a war for freedom. It is a guerilla war initiated by extremist
elements, who lost the power and are supported by their foreign lords. This
war is not for the benefit of the Afghan people. This is not the Afghan’s
people fight.
2. Pashtun people are not supporting the insurgency although the majority of
the insurgents are coming from Pashtun backgrounds of Afghanistan and Tribal
areas. There are many reasons why this war is continuing in the south of the
country. Please refer to PRAP studies for some answers. http://www.prapcanada.com/cbcjamal.htm
3. PRAP Canada is not supporting any funding from Canada and the USA that will
legitimize or help to erect any fencing, mining or surveying of the Durand line.
This is a disputed line that goes through Pashtun villages and lands. PRAP Canada
is supporting the soft border line concept that will promote track two diplomacy,
trade and cultural interactions among Pashtun population from both sides of
the line in order to create an alternative to extremist crossings of the line.
4. PRAP Canada is encouraging the Federal government to adopt a new policy on
Afghanistan that will enable Canada to have a stronger voice in Afghanistan’s
reconstruction. Canada shall participate in Afghanistan’s technological
development and governance. Canada has one of the best multicultural political
systems in the world. Our best multicultural practices shall be shared with
our Afghans counterparts.
5. PRAP Canada has advised the panel and the government to encourage local Pashtun
NGO’s, local tribal initiatives and local governance. PRAP believes that
there is a lot of potential in the south of the country that has not been utilized.
6. Canada’s International Development Agency CIDA should develop a comprehensive
strategy to support economic growth and micro enterprises along the Durand line
for Pashtuns on both side of this soft border that will create a reasonable
alternative to extremist ideas and activities.
We have the obligation to contribute our efforts to strengthening of the Afghan
governance despite the failures we are experiencing and despite the corruption
that is spreading in the government circles. We believe that Afghanistan will
go through this stage and we see a vision of prosper and independent Afghanistan,
where the Pashtun nation is an equal contributor in the process of reconstruction
and rehabilitation.
PRAP Canada will continue to press the international community to support the
Afghan and Pakistani governments in curbing the extremism and create long term
plans for the Pashtun regions’ economic revitalization.
PRAP Canada believes that Pashtuns free of extremism and war will be a better partner to other ethnic groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
PRAP Canada
21 January, 2008