John Sopko on Afghan Peace Talks

JOHN SOPKO, U.S. SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION: I think our country is unique about having Inspectors General who are required on a regular basis to report to Congress and to the American people on how their government works. I think we’re unique among many countries on that. Not to say that our government likes what we report all the time but that’s part of our job.

And I think our concern in which you alluded to this quarter is that data that we have been regularly reporting as important for the American people to understand when they judge whether we’re winning or losing or whether we’re spending our money correctly is no longer being collected. And that information dealt with district control by the Afghan government and population control. And you would think those are two important metrics for success. Are the Afghans winning back more of their district? Are they keeping their districts, their territory? Are their population under their control? And it’s not just our attitude and our view, the former U.S. military general in Afghanistan, General Nicholson, just last year said these were the key measurements of success or failure. And now, all of a sudden, they’re saying it’s no longer important.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: So, why are they saying that, John Sopko? Why are we taking these very, very important measures of success or failure out of the equation?

SOPKO: Well, the reason they gave us officially in writing was it’s no longer important. The metrics of success now is whether year discussing peace. And in our view, this is like going to a super bowl or going to a soccer match and all of a sudden, halfway through the game, they turn off the scoreboard and say, “Well, don’t worry, it doesn’t — it’s not really important anymore.” I mean, to us this is a key metric of success or failure.

AMANPOUR: So, let me ask you about peace. We said that it’s — that they’re in the sixth round of these talks between the U.S. envoys and Taliban. I mean, I don’t know whether you can evaluate whether there’s any chance for this round — for this attempt to get peace with the militants and sign some sort of declaration that ends America’s longest war. But what is your view on whether America or someone is still going to have to stay engaged? Can Afghanistan stand on its own two feet yet, even if a peace deal is signed?

SOPKO: Well, we are not auditing the peace negotiations, that’s not our job. We support peace, a lasting and fair peace in Afghanistan.