Even when Afghan security forces have assumed full responsibility, it is important to send a signal to the radical Islamic Taliban that the international community is prepared to guarantee that this remains the case. "This means a longer-term responsibility for Afghanistan," underscored Angela Merkel.
The aim must be to continue to support Afghanistan once the international security forces pull out. This might include financial pledges.In view of the German government’s strategy on Afghanistan, the Chancellor spoke of entering a new phase of the "responsible hand-over”. Germany will be going to the London conference with an all-round package, which continues to pursue the networked security approach, while taking this one step further. Funding for civilian reconstruction is to be almost doubled. The contingent of German troops is to be restructured and increased.
Withdrawal of international troops depends on progress
President Karzai stressed that his country would like to assume responsibility for its own security as rapidly as possible. He gave no firm date for the withdrawal of the international troops, but would like to see this happen by 2014 when his term of office comes to an end. "Afghanistan would like to take this burden from you soon,” said President Karzai, referring to German engagement in Afghanistan.
The Chancellor also rejected the idea of giving a firm date for withdrawal. At the same time, she supported the aim of President Karzai to have all operations handled independently by the Afghan security forces by 2014. Angela Merkel and Hamid Karzai agree that the road to the hand-over must be determined by progress made and not based on a rigid timetable.
Referring to the German airstrike on 4 September 2009 near Kunduz, in which civilians too lost their lives, the Afghan President praised Germany’s swift response to this "unfortunate” incident. Germany has reacted in a more responsible manner than any other ally of Afghanistan hitherto, he said.
This afternoon Angela Merkel will be making a government statement on Germany’s Afghanistan policy. Hamid Karzai will be taking part in a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag.
