House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) held a hearing on the future role of the United States in Afghanistan on Wednesday and identified corruption, election integrity and the Taliban as the most pressing challenges.
Royce expressed concern that the Obama Administration has not defined a clear mission for U.S. forces that are transitioning from a combat role to an “advise and assist” role.
“Insufficient planning for this transition could put American lives at risk,” Royce said. “At present, it is questionable whether our diplomatic facilities are sufficiently equipped – physically and staffing-wise – to protect U.S. personnel. This danger will only increase as more troops withdraw, which transition planners better figure out.”
Endemic corruption in Afghanistan could also subject U.S. aid programs there to waste, fraud and abuse, Royce added.
“Widespread corruption also threatens the presidential and provincial elections set for next April,” Royce said. “Free and fair elections are essential to establishing a stable Afghan government capable of preventing Taliban-induced chaos. A repeat of the widespread election fraud seen in 2009 would almost certainly undermine Afghans’ faith in their government, dangerously setting back the country.”
Royce also noted that Pakistani and Iranian support of the Taliban complicates the mission in Afghanistan.
“…Iran continues to support the Taliban, while utilizing Afghanistan’s banking system to circumvent U.S. and international sanctions,” Royce said. “Iran will intensify its meddling during the transition, at our expense. Just (Tuesday), it was announced that President Karzai had agreed to a ‘long-term friendship and cooperation pact’ with Iran. We need a strategy to counter this.”
Royce concluded that the people of Afghanistan will determine the country’s future, and the United States can assist by working to establish a stable, democratic government.