A strategic agreement was signed between Afghanistan and Germany by President Karzai and Chancellor Merkel on Wednesday, May 16, in Berlin. Followed by strategic partnership pacts with the US, Britain, France, Italy and India, the agreement with Germany is another major boost to Afghanistan's emergence as a sovereign state and gaining regional confidence.
These pacts bolster our regional standing vis-à-vis our western and eastern neighbors who have long history of troublemaking interference in our internal affairs. It also ensures long-term support of our major western allies who have sacrificed blood and money during the last ten years. These agreements provide surety about commitment of our strategic allies long after their gradual military withdrawal from 2014.
The strategic agreement between Afghanistan and Germany is valid for five years and it is to be extended for successive periods. The pact includes nine articles, focusing on cooperation in different sectors ranging from security to economy, development, governance, public administration and human rights.
Security cooperation includes military trainings of Afghan National Security Forces in bilateral annual programs on the basis of capacity and efficiency. Germany will make contribution to the financing of ANSF after ISAF withdrawal.
Cooperation in development sector includes areas such as sustainable economic development, energy supply, good governance, higher education, health, judicial system and civil aviation. Academic and cultural cooperation focus broadly, based in all areas of institutions of higher education, research institutions, academic organizations and capacity building trainings.
Article 5 of the agreement focuses economic cooperation based on existing agreements between the two countries which include the areas of export financing, export credit insurance, investment and strengthening of small and mid-sized enterprises.
Cooperation in the area of civil aviation includes measures to support Afghanistan aviation sector through establishment of air traffic accident investigation bureau, trainings, support for developing an ICAO-conform legal framework and operating concepts for airports.
Under the agreement, both sides will establish a joint inter-governmental working group for monitoring and implementation of this pact in all areas of cooperation under the Foreign Office of Germany and Afghan Foreign Ministry. The agreement calls for a strengthened democracy and politically stable Afghanistan with respect for human rights and rights of women and children in particular.
Other than all the development and assistance from Germany, this pact provides Afghanistan with strong and long-term commitment from a longtime ally that has meaningful contribution in rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan during the last ten years.