RI role in Afghanistan depends on merit<\/p>\n
Priscilla Cheung, Associated Press, New York<\/p>\n
Indonesia's role in any international force in Afghanistan
\ndepends on whether the post-Taliban government \"merits the
\nsupport,\" the Indonesian foreign minister said Friday.<\/p>\n
Hassan Wirayuda said he has talked to UN Secretary-General
\nKofi Annan, as well as his counterparts from the United States,
\nBritain and Pakistan, among others, about contributing troops to
\na future multinational force in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia \"stands ready\" to contribute troops, it has
\n\"to look closely at what will happen in the political process\" in
\nestablishing a transition Afghan government, he told a news
\nconference in New York, where he attended the annual UN General
\nAssembly debate.<\/p>\n
The UN envoy for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, is working to
\nget Afghan factions together for a meeting to form a transitional
\ngovernment after the Taliban regime abandoned the capital of
\nKabul following a month of U.S. bombing.<\/p>\n
A multinational force is expected to fill the security vacuum
\nleft by the Taliban. Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Turkey and
\nother countries have already pledged troops.<\/p>\n
Brahimi has said that it would take too long to put together a
\nUN peacekeeping force.<\/p>\n
Any decision by Indonesia, which has the world's largest
\nMuslim population, to contribute peacekeepers to a multinational
\nforce is likely to please both the U.S. administration and other
\nMuslim nations.<\/p>\n
Wirayuda said Indonesia first wants to see if the eventual
\nAfghan government \"merits the support on the security side.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are open-minded about this process, and we'll see whether
\nIndonesia will eventually participate in the coalition process,
\nor simply relegate ourselves to possible participation in the
\nfuture in a UN peacekeeping force,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman said Friday an infantry
\nbattalion of between 700 and 1,000 soldiers, including
\nparamedics, liaison officers and others, was being readied to
\nleave for Afghanistan whenever the United Nations asks.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-role-in-afghanistan-depends-on-merit-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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