The US Deputy Foreign Secretary Robert Blake has said American withdrawal strategy also focuses on economic transition in Afghanistan. While meeting officials in northern Balkh Province, Mr. Blake said that the US has strategic interests in economic stability in the region and revival of the Silk Road. Afghanistan is being connected to Central Asia through infrastructure projects.
The visit of a senior American diplomat talking about economic concerns in Afghanistan after the US and NATO withdrawal is a positive message for Afghans, who are uncertain about future of their country amid mixed American messages of commitment and frustration.
The flow of sensational popular media reporting is partly responsible for the trend of negative prospects among ordinary Afghans who fear security would worsen after the US and NATO withdrawal and our aid-dependent economy will collapse.
Though underreported, the negative perception about post-2014 Afghanistan among ordinary Afghans, particularly millions of urban dwellers, is a phenomenon that has been caused by the mixed and confused messages of commitment and relinquish from American leaders in Washington.
We strongly believe Afghanistan will be on right direction of gradual normalcy after 2014, given the current administration ensures a transparent and smooth power transition and the international community remains committed with their pledges of financial support and economic assistance for the decade after withdrawal.
The concerns about civil war and eventual chaos are mere assumptions based on flawed sensational media arm-chair analysts or political-activist experts. A transparent power transition is key to Afghanistan's future, not the fact that Taliban insurgency will remain a security challenge across the country for many years to come, even if the unsuccessful efforts of negotiations somehow work with the Taliban leadership. However, the international community has not only the obligation to complete a job and quit an Afghanistan on path to stability, rather than leaving on its own and mercy of our neighbors.
As far as the international community remains committed to its pledges, and current Administration do not go on adventure with the coming presidential elections, the situation will remain as it is now-on path to gradual normalization of political stability, nation-building, and social development.
There will always be some elements to create security challenges and the support for a strong professional ANSF will always remain a priority.
We urge the international community to continue supporting the current process, particularly their pledges about the financial assistance for free, fair and transparent elections to be held in 2014.