Germany promises long-term commitment in Afghanistan

Sun, 09 Jan 2011

Kabul- The German foreign minister on Sunday pledged long- term support for Afghanistan during a surprise visit to Kabul, saying his country would continue engagements there after security responsibility was handed over to local forces in 2014.

Guido Westerwelle said Germany would "not leave (Afghanistan) alone" in the years following 2014, after a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Zalmay Rassoul.

The minister's trip to Kabul - which for security reasons was unannounced - comes ahead of a German government decision next week to extend the mandate for troops participating in NATO's Afghanistan mission.

The minister said he expected the mandate "to be carried by a very large majority in the Bundestag (lower house of parliament)," which is due to vote on the issue January 28.

The Bundestag must agree on an annual basis to extend any German military missions abroad. The country presently has around 4,600 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Westerwelle and Rassoul also signed an agreement to relieve Afghanistan of 17 million dollars (13 million euros) of debt, dating back to East German times. Westerwelle also met President Hamid Karzai in the Afghan capital.

Other topics included a call by Westerwelle for greater freedoms for religious minorities and efforts to clamp down on corruption.

Rassoul promised to fight the problem of corruption "at the roots."

By visiting Kabul, Westerwelle wanted to highlight the importance of a "political solution" and effective government in Afghanistan. Previous German visits have avoided the capital, out of security concerns, but also due to criticism of Karzai's leadership.

The minister emphasized plans to withdraw the first German troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2011, a process which is due to end in 2014, "insofar as the situation allows it," according to the wording of the new draft mandate.

Westerwelle arrived in Kabul from Islamabad, where on Saturday he discussed Germany's commitment to Afghanistan with Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Allied forces including Germany would help "the Afghan government and its institutions to assume administrative and security responsibilities in the country," a statement from the Pakistani government quoted Westerwelle as saying.

Many countries, including Pakistan, are skeptical about the capacity of local troops and fear renewed violence after the planned pull-out of foreign forces in 2014.

Gilani said his country was determined "to continue its campaign against terrorism and extremism."

In Islamabad, Westerwelle also reassured Gilani of his country's economic support for Pakistan, which is still suffering the aftermath of recent floods which affected around 20 million people.

The German minister had to cancel a visit to an aid project for flood victims after heavy fog had diverted his flight to the southern city of Lahore, forcing his delegation to travel almost 400 kilometers by bus to reach the capital.

Germany is Pakistan's fourth largest trading partner, and the largest in the EU. Bilateral trade touched 2.24 billion dollars in 2009-10.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/361458,promises-long-term-commitment-afghanistan.html.