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A German police officer speaks to trainees at the police academy in Kabul.

(© picture-alliance/ dpa)

The German Federal Cabinet today adopted an updated Afghanistan Concept that continues to place central importance on Germany’s commitment to reconstruction and boosts funding for civilian reconstruction efforts by 40 million euros to 140 million euros in 2008 and again in 2009.

Military protection remains an important element in Germany’s commitment in Afghanistan, and the updated concept raises the maximum number of military personnel able to be deployed for the International Security Assistance Force to 4,500.

The Federal Government is following the concept that the Afghan partners must assume more responsibility step by step. That is why Germany is supporting the establishment and training of Afghan security forces. In the intermediate term, these forces are to be responsible independently for Afghanistan’s security. The Federal Government this year has therefore tripled its funding for police building to 35.7 million euros.

In addition to funding, German experts are supporting the training. Only when Afghan security forces are able to stabilize their country on their own will it be possible to gradually reduce the international troop presence.

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Defense Minister Jung visited German troops in Afghanistan on Sept. 2.

(© picture-alliance/ dpa)

The Afghanistan Concept states that there is no simple or fast solution to the problem in Afghanistan. To be successful, the reconstruction of Afghanistan must result in permanent stabilization, something that can only occur through the approach of comprehensive security. This means that civilian and military measures must be coordinated and that the Afghan government must be included even more strongly.The Federal Government sees its approach confirmed by the results of the NATO Summit in Bucharest and the international Afghanistan conference in Paris early this year. In Bucharest leaders adopted a comprehensive strategy that included NATO’s political, military and supportive measures and anchored them in international initiatives. The Paris conference made clear that the Afghan partners must increasingly take on more responsibility for reconstruction of their country