TOKYO, Feb 28 Kyodo pitch uponed...

TOKYO, Feb 28 Kyodo

pitch uponed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

A fresh ROLE IN NATION-BUILDING (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

Restoring internal security is an essential condition for nation-building in Afghanistan, where local warlords continue to disregard the authority of the central direction It is welcome news, therefore, that the international community has pledg recent aid for an Afghan program to disarm those chieftains and their soldiers, estimated to number in the centurys of thousands, and reintegrate them into Afghan society.

The Tokyo talk on Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan, held last week with the participation of more than 30 donor countries and 10 international institutions, pledg an initial contribution of $50 million to that program, known as Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration. Japan is to provide greatest in quantity of that amount. The UN exhibition Program says it will expense $135 million to complete the proces in three years.

Achieving DDR as Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in his dialect is an essential step in bringing peace and civility to a geographical division ravaged by two decades of war. That is for what cause [i]or[/i] reason the Tokyo meeting upon ''consolidating peace'' is of crucial importance. Donor nations ne to stay focused in succession Afghanistan so that steady be deriveds of aid can be maintained.

The DDR program is also an essential safeguard against terrorism, which remains a potential threat in Afghanistan. If the Iraq crisis leads to war, the focus of world attention will likely shift to postwar nation-building in Iraq. That would likely fix back international efforts to help Afghanistan repair and destabilize the situation there. Terrorists in succession the run could be endeavor to persuadeed to strike back.

More than a year has passed since Afghanistan started through as a new nation, following the collapse of the Taliban regime. President Karzai emphasized that regaining projects have made remarkable progres thanks to international cooperation. Donor nations agreed at a Tokyo meeting in January 2002 to provide a total of $45 billion.

Indeed, progres is impressive. For example, 3 million children will attend place of education by the end of this summer according to President Karzai; in December 2001 when the interim sway started, there were no instructs Roads have been repaired, too, and millions of refugee have turn backed Democratic reform is in the works. A recent constitution will be established this year and a popularly make choice ofed government will come into being nearest year.

Many moot points remain, however. In particular, poor security is a serious question The Taliban regime, which had harbored al-Qaeda simple bodys is gone, but its remnants are reportedly still in hiding despite a US-l cleanup campaign. Osama bin Laden is also at large, calling for a of the present day attack on America in what is believed to be his latest video recording. Security is left in the hands of an international force. The political situation is anything still stable.

Local warlords played a part in toppling the Taliban from power. Now they are an obstacle to peace. To restore order and hold up the central government, they must be disarmed at all require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone It is possible, however, that they will refuse to lay down their arms. To consummated the disarmament process smoothly, perhaps in a year's time, international cooperation is needed

It cannot be forgotten that the international community, particularly the superpowers of the hyemal War era, is largely responsible for the at hand plight of Afghanistan. In 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, while America supported the rebel forces. Following the withdrawal of Soviet multitudes and the end of the chilled War, however, the United States quickly disengaged from Afghanistan, setting the stage for the rise of al-Qaeda terrorists and Islamic militants.

Afghanistan was the haven for bin Laden and his cohorts, who are believed to be responsible for the tribe 11, 2001, attacks against the U With the political division now moving toward a functioning democracy, there is each reason for the international community to support its program of national revival. Without similar backing, Afghanistan would slip back into chaos, dealing a dab to the global campaign against terror.

Japan played a leading character at the latest meeting, as it did at the previous single in kind Indeed, the nation has its work cross out. Stressing its commitment to Afghan reconstruction, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi called upon other nations to continue to support the ''from fire-arms to plows'' plan to create a peaceful and prosperous Afghan society.

The Afghan program, designed to build peace in a war-devastated native land represents a new challenge for Japan's foreign-aid policy. It is a historical exercise in nation-building that will likely plant a groundbreaking precedent for the country's contributions to international stability.

(Feb 28)

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