National Defence committee  I'm sorry. Can I just add one more point? It was really an important point. The final point concerns the military. Unless you stop the source of the Taliban, you're not going to get peace in Afghanistan. This means engaging Pakistan. If we do not engage Pakistan, we can send as

National Defence committee  In regard to negotiations with the hardline Taliban, what has to be done is what has been done, what is part of negotiation strategies in any civil war. You have to compel the hardliners to understand that the objectives they seek cannot be gained, that their war cannot be won. T

National Defence committee  I have about four brief points in terms of peace-building. One is that vetting of government officials is very important. We need to inspire more confidence in the government, and one of the ways to do that is to have a system of meritocracy and vetting to ensure that the people

National Defence committee  I'll try to be very quick. In regard to what you noted about development and having more balance in terms of the military development work, I completely agree with you. In fact, I think one of the shortcomings in the last five years has been that there has been a great deal of a

National Defence committee  I'll make two points. One, Afghanistan is an evolving society, and before, with the Loya Jirgas, you didn't have the participation of women. Eventually, in the seventies and eighties, you ended up having an increased level of involvement at a symbolic level. The 2001-02 process,

National Defence committee  Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairperson, esteemed members, and guests for having me and giving me an opportunity to speak about the situation in Afghanistan. I'll speak extemporaneously because, being the last speaker, I don't want to cover points that my colleagues have already