9 Conclusion
177. Reconstructing Afghanistan will be a lengthy
process. Afghanistan was one of the poorest countries in the world
in 2001 with some of the lowest human development indicators.
Afghanistan is off-track on all the MDGs but has set its own target
date of 2020, five years after the UN target date. If Afghanistan
meets this target it will be a significant achievement.[212]
178. The process of reconstruction needs to be Afghan-led.
Donor assistance and guidance will be required but such assistance
should aim to build Afghan capacity to fund and manage Afghan
development to meet the needs and aspirations of the people of
Afghanistan. After years of violent conflict they deserve no less.
179. In Afghanistan everything is a priority, and
yet it is not possible to address all priorities simultaneously.
We have not therefore attempted to cover all aspects of the development
and reconstruction process. Instead we have sought to concentrate
on the areas we consider to present the greatest challenges and
those which might, if properly overcome, establish the framework
upon which other sectors can build.
180. Most of the people we met during our visit spoke
favourably of DFID and the UK effort. It is perfectly understandable
and right that Afghans should want to share the quality of life
which they know is available in other parts of the world. This
will however take time and it is important that donors remain
committed for the long term. Afghanistan must not become an aid
orphan—with too little international support to enable it
to become a stable and secure country. The risks of abandoning
Afghanistan and the consequences for global security are significant.
181. Thus the challenge of reconstructing Afghanistan
is one which is jointly owned by the people of Afghanistan and
the international community. It is a challenge which involves
a careful balance between long-term objectives and short-term
needs and it is a challenge which requires a realistic assessment
of the potential and limits of post-conflict reconstruction in
a country with weak institutions, low capacity and ongoing insecurity.
182. In recent weeks, there have been changes in
the political atmosphere and a deterioration in the security situation
which make the outlook seem less positive than when we visited
Afghanistan in October. Whilst the complexities of the situation
are extremely challenging, we remain determined that the concerted
efforts which we urge in this report are made, so that reconstruction
and development can be achieved in Afghanistan.
212 UN, Afghanistan Human Development Report 2007
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