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The Federal Foreign Office has contributed to the restoration of Kabul's beloved Babur Gardens.

(© photothek.net; Köhler)

More than 30,000 Germans have lent their help in Afghanistan in recent years. Here is more information on ongoing projects, plus facts and figures on how Germany is helping.

Basis of Germany's involvement in Afghanistan

The German government's involvement in the reconstruction of Afghanistan began in November 2001, when it organized the first conference on the Petersberg near Bonn. The peace process that began there - which became known as the Petersberg Process - was continued at an international donor conference in Tokyo (January 2002) and a second conference in Bonn (December 2002).

A third meeting took place in spring 2004 in Berlin. Several resolutions were adopted at these conferences concerning the reconstruction and stabilization of Afghanistan, for example on establishing state structures and the deployment of international troops.

In February 2006 the Petersberg Process was successfully completed with the adoption of the Afghanistan Compact. The most recent meeting between the international community and representatives from Afghanistan took place in Paris in June 2008. Germany once more pledged wide-ranging support.

Civil-military approach

The key component here are the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), in which civilians (diplomats, police trainers, reconstruction aid workers) and the military cooperate closely to ensure security and reconstruction in the provinces.

 Germany is leading two PRTs in northern Afghanistan (Kunduz and Feyzabad); a regional advisory team took up its work in Taloqan on 23 February 2008.

Mandates

ISAF 

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German soldiers on patrol at a market near Kunduz

(© dpa - Report)

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is based on a series of resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council supported by Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Its mandate it to assist the Government of Afghanistan in establishing and maintaining security.

The goal is to create a secure environment in which Afghan authorities, UN personnel and other international personnel can work. In August 2003 NATO took over command of ISAF. More than 4,000 Bundeswehr soldiers are currently deployed as part of this mission. In October 2008, the German Bundestag extended the national mandate until December 13, 2009. The maximum number of personnel was increased to 4,500. Since July 2009, up to 300 additional soldiers onboard AWACS surveillance airplanes have been available for the control and coordination of air traffic.

OEF

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is based the right to self-defense against an armed attack. This right is explicitly validated by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. The UN Security Council has repeatedly recognized the role of OEF, and called on ISAF in Afghanistan to co-operate closely with OEF.

The OEF mandate is to disengage terrorists' leadership and training facilities, to fight terrorism, capture terrorists and bring them before the courts, as well as to permanently prevent third parties supporting terrorist activities. The OEF theatre of operations includes Afghanistan as well as primarily the region around the Horn of Africa. OEF is led by the United States. German soldiers are currently only deployed as part of an OEF naval mission around the Horn of Africa. 

UNAMA

The German government is currently supporting the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by deploying military observers. This mission supports the establishment and expansion of rule-of-law structures and promotes national reconciliation. 

Police work

In April 2002 Germany assumed the lead role in rebuilding the Afghan police force. Since then German officers have been giving training and advanced training to their colleagues in Afghanistan based on a bilateral agreement. Since June 2007 the rebuilding of the police force has also been stepped up and expanded as part of the European police mission (EUPOL Afghanistan). The extent and significance of Germany's commitment is an important pillar of this mission, and is being led by a German, Jürgen Scholz.

Legal basis: Bilateral agreement between Germany and Afghanistan; joint action of the European Union (EUPOL Afghanistan Police Mission), headquarters and status agreements, Cabinet resolution.Personnel: Germany supports the rebuilding of the police force in Afghanistan within the framework of the EU-led mission EUPOL as well as bilaterally through the German Police Project Team (GPPT). With currently more than 250 police officers and legal experts (the goal is 400), EUPOL helps in the training and advising of the Afghan Interior Ministry as well as the Afghan police and public prosecutor. Germany is participating in EUPOL with about 40 federal and state civil servants as well as 10 civilian experts. Additionally, within the framework of the bilateral GPPT, Germany is providing help equipping the Afghan police and is active locally with about 80 German police officers. These are especially responsible for the training of Afghan police forces. By 2010 the bilateral commitment to the rebuilding of the police in Afghanistan is to be raised up to 200 German police officers.

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Germany provides the largest contingent within the EU police mission.

(© picture-alliance/ dpa)

Police Project Team: The Police Project Team comprises up to 10 police officers who implement bilateral training and equipment aid and construction projects for the Afghan police force in close cooperation with EUPOL.Financial assistance: Since 2002, Germany’s financial support for the Afghan police forces has risen from 12 million euros to 43.2 million euros in 2009. Alongside direct assistance with equipment, Germany is financing construction projects. Germany co-finances salaries for Afghan police officers through contributions to a United Nations trust fund.

Important projects: Supporting the National Police Academy in Kabul; training for Afghan police officers; advising decision-makers in the police force and Interior Ministry; wide-ranging reform of organizational structure, ranks and salaries in the police force (Tashkil); reconstructing the infrastructure and providing equipment to the Afghan police, for example with the construction of the headquarters for the riot police and traffic police, the construction of police training centers in Masar e-Sharif, Kunduz, Faisabad and for the border police in Kabul.

Additionally, Germany is active in the training of police officers in the individual districts. Within the framework of the Focused District Development (FDD) Germany has assumed responsible (responsibility?) up to now for police training in five districts in the northern region. This is to be expanded by the end of 2009 to 10 districts and in 2010 by another 20 districts.Progress made: More than 24,000 police officers have successfully completed their training. Basic training for Afghan riot police, air passenger control personnel at Kabul airport and the border police is provided.Conferences: Two minister-level conferences (DOHA I, 2004 and DOHA II, 2006) were organized to get international financial assistance to rebuild the police force and to conclude important agreements between Afghanistan and its neighbors in the field of cross-border crime.

Development cooperation

The priorities within the framework of Afghan-German development cooperation are sustainable economic development through the promotion of earnings and employment, energy supply (especially renewable energies), urban water supply and education (basic and professional). Special emphasis is on building viable personnel and institutional capacities in partner institutions in Afghanistan and in training personnel. For example, Germany has invested a total of 13.5 million euros in 2009 in the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s electrical infrastructure. With this, Germany made a significant contribution to securing the power supply for the people in Kabul and in rural regions of North Afghanistan.

Additional areas of cooperation are the strengthening of the Afghan government’s ability to act in the financing of national investment programs such as the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund. The German Government is also supporting projects for the promotion of the rule of law, cultural reconstruction, as well as the strengthening of civil society and human rights, especially of women.

Debt relief initiative

With the declaration of the public creditors at the Afghanistan Conference in London at the end of January 2006 a debt-relief process began that has as its goal a 100 percent cancellation of debt for the country. Up to now, the German Government has cancelled approximately 65 million euros in Afghanistan’s debt. Should Afghanistan successfully complete the international debt relief initiative, Germany has promised to cancel all remaining debts owed of some 10 million euros.

The Federal Republic of Germany is thereby making a significant contribution to the financial stabilization and to the management of the debt burden and supports the economic reform process of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Regional cooperation

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US Special Envoy Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Mützelburg,and Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Galbraith were among those at the inaugural meeting of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Support Group.

(© dpa - Report)

At the Meeting of G8 Foreign Ministers in Potsdam, Germany launched the G8 Dialogue Initiative to improve bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its objective is to resolve common problems by means of concrete, cross-border projects and to establish a relationship of trust between the two countries.

Cross-border cooperation: Promoting the Doha Process to improve cross-border cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors. Active involvement in the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference process held annually in the region which serves economic integration in the region surrounding Afghanistan. Support for the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan.

Humanitarian aid

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A woman is photographed as part of election registration in November 2008.

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

A total of more than 77.7 million euros in humanitarian aid has been provided to Afghanistan since 2001. Priority areas of action are humanitarian mine clearance, water supply projects and healthcare projects. The main target groups are population groups that are in need of special protection, such as returning refugees, women and children.

Total financial assistance

Up to 2010 Germany will be making a total of more than 1.1 billion euros available to Afghanistan, including in humanitarian aid, emergency aid and transition assistance.