This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/27/afghanistan-nato-pull-out-kabul
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan: As Nato troops pull out, Kabul has the task of rebuilding society | Afghanistan: As Nato troops pull out, Kabul has the task of rebuilding society |
| (7 days later) | |
| The military campaign in Afghanistan has been the focus of international attention over the last decade, but that is shifting markedly as Kabul tries to make sense of what will be left behind when Nato's combat troops disappear. | The military campaign in Afghanistan has been the focus of international attention over the last decade, but that is shifting markedly as Kabul tries to make sense of what will be left behind when Nato's combat troops disappear. |
| The country has 34 provinces and progress in each, on issues such as women's rights and counter-narcotics, is, so far, patchy. | The country has 34 provinces and progress in each, on issues such as women's rights and counter-narcotics, is, so far, patchy. |
| A new sense of realism appears to be sweeping the civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), along with a chilling recognition that their legacy will help shape the future of the country. | A new sense of realism appears to be sweeping the civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), along with a chilling recognition that their legacy will help shape the future of the country. |
| The feeling is particularly acute in Helmand, where the British-led PRT has broken new ground over the last three years and is desperate to preserve such progress as has been made. | The feeling is particularly acute in Helmand, where the British-led PRT has broken new ground over the last three years and is desperate to preserve such progress as has been made. |
| Afghanistan's first local elections were held in Helmand, which now has 32 councillors. It has recently adopted a more pragmatic drugs strategy, that could help to persuade poppy farmers to develop crops that are actually needed in cities such as Kabul. | Afghanistan's first local elections were held in Helmand, which now has 32 councillors. It has recently adopted a more pragmatic drugs strategy, that could help to persuade poppy farmers to develop crops that are actually needed in cities such as Kabul. |
| But time is against them. The PRT, which has a team of 160, is being gradually wound down. | But time is against them. The PRT, which has a team of 160, is being gradually wound down. |
| And Hamid Karzai's surprise sacking last week of Helmand's provincial governor, Gulab Mangal, is an undoubted blow at an important moment. | And Hamid Karzai's surprise sacking last week of Helmand's provincial governor, Gulab Mangal, is an undoubted blow at an important moment. |
| The British liked Mangal and hoped that if he had to be replaced, a progressive would be appointed. Instead, Karzai gave the province to an unknown: General Naeem Baloch, who used to work for the Afghan intelligence service. | The British liked Mangal and hoped that if he had to be replaced, a progressive would be appointed. Instead, Karzai gave the province to an unknown: General Naeem Baloch, who used to work for the Afghan intelligence service. |
| It is too soon to know how this will affect the PRT, but it is hard to imagine that Baloch has been put in place because he is a liberal; or that he will instinctively support the head of the PRT, Catriona Laing, who wants Helmand to become a model, for other provinces, in aspects such as good governance. | It is too soon to know how this will affect the PRT, but it is hard to imagine that Baloch has been put in place because he is a liberal; or that he will instinctively support the head of the PRT, Catriona Laing, who wants Helmand to become a model, for other provinces, in aspects such as good governance. |
| This is the unsexy, below-the-line organisation that Helmand desperately needs. And with the unerringly punishing luxury of hindsight, the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development now believe the British spent too much time and money on "visible" changes in the province, such as the building of new schools, roads and health clinics, and not enough time putting in place the kind of checks, balances and controls that make governments be accountable, and function. | This is the unsexy, below-the-line organisation that Helmand desperately needs. And with the unerringly punishing luxury of hindsight, the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development now believe the British spent too much time and money on "visible" changes in the province, such as the building of new schools, roads and health clinics, and not enough time putting in place the kind of checks, balances and controls that make governments be accountable, and function. |
| One of the key figures in Helmand is Jim Haggerty, a 58-year-old Geordie who has the ear, and the trust, of many of the village elders and tribal chiefs. | One of the key figures in Helmand is Jim Haggerty, a 58-year-old Geordie who has the ear, and the trust, of many of the village elders and tribal chiefs. |
| Working for the UK's stabilisation unit, Haggerty has been in Afghanistan for more than five years and in Helmand for more than four. | Working for the UK's stabilisation unit, Haggerty has been in Afghanistan for more than five years and in Helmand for more than four. |
| Few Britons in Afghanistan understand the country's people and its practices better than he. He is pragmatic, and cautions against being too ambitious in the time the PRT has left. | Few Britons in Afghanistan understand the country's people and its practices better than he. He is pragmatic, and cautions against being too ambitious in the time the PRT has left. |
| He believes the priority now is what he calls a "back to the future strategy". He says: "We need to take them back to the point where they were at 20 years ago. | He believes the priority now is what he calls a "back to the future strategy". He says: "We need to take them back to the point where they were at 20 years ago. |
| Instead of comparing what they have now to what we have, we have to think back to what they had then. That should be the starting point. | Instead of comparing what they have now to what we have, we have to think back to what they had then. That should be the starting point. |
| "It may look ugly to us from where we are, but it might make sense here. There are going to be setbacks. | "It may look ugly to us from where we are, but it might make sense here. There are going to be setbacks. |
| "It may not end up as we had hoped for, but when you look at the changes we have seen, and the people that have been affected, and the willingness of the Afghans to take the lead now, then that is progress. | "It may not end up as we had hoped for, but when you look at the changes we have seen, and the people that have been affected, and the willingness of the Afghans to take the lead now, then that is progress. |
| "It is not going to be ideal, it may not be what we wanted four of five years ago, but this is a process that will be truly owned by the Afghans. We have to respect that." | "It is not going to be ideal, it may not be what we wanted four of five years ago, but this is a process that will be truly owned by the Afghans. We have to respect that." |
| The Afghans, he admits, want the British to leave. But not just yet. | The Afghans, he admits, want the British to leave. But not just yet. |
| "They don't want us here. But they are very pragmatic and they know that they need us to enable them to do what they want to do." | "They don't want us here. But they are very pragmatic and they know that they need us to enable them to do what they want to do." |
| And though the PRT will disappear, Haggerty says, "there will still be some people here after 2014". | And though the PRT will disappear, Haggerty says, "there will still be some people here after 2014". |
| He adds: "The civilian side will evolve into something else. It is not as if we are walking away from here. We won't let it founder. | He adds: "The civilian side will evolve into something else. It is not as if we are walking away from here. We won't let it founder. |
| "There is unfinished business here. It is not the end of the book, just the end of a chapter in the book." | "There is unfinished business here. It is not the end of the book, just the end of a chapter in the book." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |