NATO discusses Afghanistan strategy

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Source Aftenposten English Web Desk

NATO leaders meeting in Riga this month will call on the international community to revamp a haphazard strategy for rebuilding Afghanistan.
Ideas being floated ahead of the Nov. 28-29 summit of the US-led defense pact include stricter monitoring of donor pledges, and greater roles for the local UN mission and World Bank in coordinating development and reconstruction.
With support at home for the Afghan mission at risk as casualties mount, NATO countries see the international aid effort and the extension of President Hamid Karzai's authority across the country as their eventual way out.
"If we are to succeed, our military engagement must be accompanied by a more efficient civilian effort," a NATO diplomat quoted Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as telling his alliance counterparts in a letter this month.
Norway wants the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to have a greater remit to manage civilian efforts and the World Bank to be "more vigorous" in overseeing development. It called for a greater effort to train the Afghan army, police and judiciary, where corruption is still widespread, and proposed a "special envoy" to better coordinate donor funds.
 
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