US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson says US government would support stability in Pakistan and rehabilitation of Afghan people. PHOTO: FILE
Addressing the launching ceremony of The Talloires Network at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and a seminar on Pak-US Higher Education Initiative on Civic Engagement in Islamabad on Monday, he said that the defunct Soviet Union had withdrawn from Afghanistan without completing the rehabilitation of local population which was a mistake and should be avoided.
"Pakistan has suffered a major challenge of Afghan refugees since long which ultimately has burdened its socio-economic fabric and created instability in the region" Olson said. He added that the US government would support stability in Pakistan and rehabilitation of Afghan people.
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal seconded Olson as he said that community building and rehabilitation was neglected during the process of withdrawal of Russian forces from Afghanistan which brought great devastation to the region.
At that time, Iqbal said, the weaponised people should have been given proper training and counseling, bringing them into healthy sphere of life. He insisted that now, with the US military pulling out, the aspect of community building and rehabilitation of the people must be given importance.
He said that peace in Afghanistan was need of the hour for stability in the whole region and both Pakistan and United States must continue joint efforts to establish peace in the region.
COMMENTS (18)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
US is now camouflaging its the biggest ever committed mistake by entering Afghanistan on the name of peace by battling against Taliban but unfortunately US' forces faced/saw the results against their expectations,intentions and wishes and faced the most worst ever defeat and failure in Afghanistan this is why now the US' officials are remembering USSR which also faced the most worst ever defeat in Afghanistan against the that time's Taliban...... This is much the best of US that US has to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan other wise USSR's history shall be recalled and US shall not have any authentic and reasonable things on the time of withdrawal like USSR except regretful feelings.....
Americans comparing themselves with doomed Soviets! Afghanistan has proved once again that it is a legend-killer!!
Tell me which conquering force has done rehabilitation! ask Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan (after the Soviets). Nice words, may be some money which the rich manage some how to keep to themselves. Looking at the Muslim Empire what kind of rehabilitation did they do - kill, loot, and take the women away!
@US CENTCOM: Stop dribbling out garbage. The US military has lost the war; it has cost the American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars; there is nothing to show for it.
The Pentagon has churned out this same propaganda here and in Iraq. Just go home; this is not your land and you are not wanted here.
@Typical Desi:
Don't be ungrateful, they are handing it back to the Taliban,
rex Minor
What the US says and what it does is another story. It is a case of seeing and believing.
What exactly do they mean by "rehabilitation"? There is only more war in Afghanistan's future after the US withdraws. How can you "rehabilitate" the population in such an environment?
Our readers seem to forget that Afghanistan has come a long way since the Taliban rule of that nation. Do we not see an Afghanistan that is much improved? Over six million Afghan students are enrolled in schools; out of that 35 percent are female. A well trained and disciplined security force has taken over the security duties of their nation. There is no way Afghans can regress back to the Taliban days of anarchy. Freedom is a very powerful and vital force that has been experienced by the Afghans. So a word of caution to the conspiracy theorists; when a nation sets its eyes on progress and freedom, nothing can pull them back! Our mission has come to a natural end, and as we move our fighting forces out of Afghanistan, our leadership has promised that we will remain involved with the progress of the Afghan nation.
Abdul Quddus DET-United States Central Command
Well, US is now trying to stay in Afghanistan in the name of rehab. Safe exit doesn't seem possible.
And not the new as as well
The responsibility for rehabilitation did not rest on the Russians it rested squarely on the shoulders of the Americans because they abandoned the region soon after the Russians withdrew in defeat. Suggest the good ambassador read ' Charlie Wilson's War ' by George Crile.
How one would expect that foreign forces will rehabilitate local population before they leave Afghanistan?
Former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to conquer Afghanistan, and it was only Pakistan, who could not made the former Soviet Union's dream come true.
Now it the turn of US forces to leave Afghanistan. Would US forces be having ample time to make all the necessary arrangements to rehabilitate the local population? I don't think do.
I have all the apprehensions that when US forces will leave Afghanistan, they will be attacked by the Afghan Taliban.
Looking at Pakistan at this juncture while the US forces will be leaving Afghanistan is of no use.
It is better for the US Government to talk to the Russain Government to give safe passage to US forces from Afghanistan so that US soldiers should go back home safely.
I am sure that after the US forces will leave Afghanistan, it is going to be the fall of Hamid Karzai's government in Afghanistan and Afghan Taliban will take over the control of entire Afghanistan, including the Afghanistan Government and due to this very reason, I can foresee that there will be more influx of Afghan Nationals coming in to Pakistan.
At this point, Pakistan must seal its boders so that no a single Afghan National should enter Pakistan any more, not this time again.
We have taken much load of Afghan Nationals during the Soviet War in Afghanistan and would not like that more Afghan Nationals should become burden on Government of Pakistan and on Pakistan's economy.
Dear minister Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, rehabilitation is not the job for US to do. They only know to devastate and they know well. Look at examples in last decade, Iraq, Liba, Yemen, Syria, and list goes on.
Did US made any mistakes or all the blame goes to soviets?
Apparently headline is bit misleading --- it shall read "Mistakes made by Americans in Afghanistan pull-out#1 not to be repeated". Why to blame Russia; it were Americans who after defeating Sovirts left in haste; to let Pakistan to suffer from the mess it was there in late 80s.
And i forgot to write that it was Soviets who were defeated last time in Afghanistan. This time its you. And we already know how much rehabilitation you have done in Iraq. Lots of bombs to help the poor and kewp the population under control, eh?
Yeah Mr Olson, its not going to be the mistake because its a bigger and much more nasty. And much more embarassing for any nice nation of the world. But i guess USA is not a nice nation at all. So never mind my rants.