President Hamid Karzai is out to visit Italy, France and Britain. His trip is aimed at signing strategic agreements with these countries. Many countries involved in Afghanistan have announced to continue to partner with and assist the country after 2014 when Afghan security forces are slated to take over the security responsibilities of the country and some of them are signing or willing to sign strategic agreements of long-term nature with Afghanistan.

This may give Afghan people a high hope for a change to be seen in their life. Afghan people support a long-term partnership between Afghanistan and some of its major allies and backers. But it should be said that over the last ten years, Afghanistan had a unique opportunity to take advantages of changes.

This opportunity was misspent recklessly and without any care. As a result, the money that was given in aid to improve governance and services for the people across the country was siphoned off by corrupt officials or government agencies.

Taliban and other insurgents are in a position to continue their insurgent and terrorist activities. President Karzai's unpredictable and inconstant positions, on the issues facing the country, including tackling the ruthless insurgency, have alienated both political elites and people in the country.

He is going to be written down as a failed president who squandered an unprecedented opportunity without being able to improve security, economy and politics of the country. With his skewed policies, he appears to be intent upon creating fragmentation in the country, which could lead to its decline into a situation too difficult to restore and reverse.

While Afghan people will remain thankful, those friendly and allied countries that reiterated and reaffirmed their long-term commitment to their country, it is also important to bring changes to make the government accountable and to stamp out the corruption.

In fact, the countries that maintain their commitment to help Afghanistan must also espouse the calls coming out from Afghan people for political reforms and improving rule of law by engaging the people in the political decision processes and giving power to the people to elect their provincial governors and district governors.

If these reforms are not implemented, even two and three more decades of international engagement and assistance will not produce the required results and impacts for nation to be stabilized and become prosperous. In fact, international community, based on the experiences of last ten years and experiences from other countries, must put their weight behind the ongoing campaign carried out by some major political parties and coalitions that represent more than sixty percent of the country's population to turn the individual-based presidential system into a parliamentary democracy to address the current unaccountability and whimsical decision-making processes.