Archived Document
Priority 4. Enhance border security, with facilitation of bilateral dialogue between Afghan and Pakistani authorities.
Afghan security and development depend on improved relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan—especially with respect to the security and economic development of their shared border region. Suppressing the flow of insurgents, weapons and narcotics between the two countries is necessary for countering the insurgency. Managing orderly and legal migration and trade, and fostering border-area economic growth, are critical to advancing security, governance and development in Kandahar.
Canadian Objective for 2011: By 2011, we expect that Afghan institutions, in cooperation with Pakistan, will exercise stronger capacity to manage the border and foster economic development in the border area.
Encouraging cross-border cooperation and implementing border-area development projects are obviously difficult. The border itself passes through rough and remote territory, travel in the area is dangerous and requires military protection, and the relationship between governments in Kabul and Islamabad has been troubled for many years. Tense relations between Pakistan and India, unsettled by the Mumbai terrorist attack and its aftermath, complicate Afghan-Pakistani cooperation.
Still, some signs of limited progress were evident during the quarter. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Jirga process resumed with positive meetings in October; Canada has supported the process with aid to the Afghan Peace Jirga Secretariat. In Kandahar, Canadian Forces officers organized a “border flag” meeting of ISAF, Afghan and Pakistani officers to discuss border security matters, the first such meeting in eight months. Progress was also reported from the trilateral summit hosted by the President of Turkey in December, attended by the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan. All three presidents expressed support for cooperation in security, counter-terrorism action and development.
Canada made strides toward providing training and infrastructure at Afghanistan’s border- crossing points, with preliminary training and needs assessments in the Spin Boldak area. Better border facilities there could increase Afghan capacity to collect badly needed customs revenues and manage movements of people and goods.
