Operation Moshtarak illustrates way forward in Afghanistan
During his visit to NATO Headquarters on 10 March, NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Ambassador Mark Sedwill, briefed the North Atlantic Council on the progress of the military and civilian phases of Operation Moshtarak which is ongoing in southern Afghanistan.
In a subsequent news conference, Ambassador Sedwill explained how Operation Moshtarak, with its particularly comprehensive military and civilian approach, provides a template for the way the Afghan Government in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) wants to move forward over the next year and a half.
“We’re all clear that although I’m telling you the story of one district of one province in Afghanistan, this is an illustration of the entire issue that we face there: military operations are enabling, they can bring security to an area, but that security is only going to endure if we can provide particularly the governance – security and justice, just real basic governance – but also development, particularly education, to follow it up. And that needs to be provided by the Afghan government with our support,” he said.
This was the first time Ambassador Sedwill came to Brussels to brief the North Atlantic Council in his capacity as NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative.