Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan:
Strategic Partnership
Office of the Spokesperson to the President
05/23/2005
Since the fall of the Taliban regime in December
2001, the United States and Afghanistan have made great progress
in the pursuit of common strategic objectives. Together we have
disrupted international terrorist networks and worked to ensure
that Afghanistan will never again be a safe haven for terrorists.
The United States has supported the Afghan people as they have
established a moderate, representative government. During this
time, the U.S. Government and the American people have demonstrated
a commitment to an Afghanistan that is democratic, free, and
able to provide for its own security.
Afghanistan expresses the profound gratitude of the Afghan people
to the people of the United States of America. Thanks to the
generosity of the American people and U.S. leadership, this
extraordinary effort has enabled the Afghan people to regain
hope and confidence and to renew their vision for achieving
prosperity and peace.
Afghanistan confronts important challenges to its security and
its efforts to build a government based on democratic principles,
respect for human rights, and a market economy. To address these
challenges, Afghanistan proposed that the United States join
in a strategic partnership and establish close cooperation,
including regular, high-level exchanges on the political, security,
and economic issues contained herein and other issues of mutual
interest. The United States and Afghanistan plan to work together
to develop appropriate arrangements and agreements to implement
their strategic partnership.
This shared effort will be based on a number of key principles,
including a dedication to the rule of law, protection of the
human rights and civil liberties of all individuals regardless
of ethnic affiliations or gender, support for democratic governance,
and reliance on the free market as the best means to further
Afghanistan's economic progress. The strategic partnership's
primary goal will be to strengthen U.S.-Afghan ties to help
ensure Afghanistan's long-term security, democracy, and prosperity.
It should contribute to peaceful and productive relations between
Afghanistan and its neighbors. It is not directed against any
third country.
This partnership will serve as the basis for our common efforts
to cooperate in the war against international terror and the
struggle against violent extremism, to promote stability and
prosperity in the region, and to remain steadfast in supporting
Afghanistan's campaign to eradicate poppy cultivation, provide
alternate livelihoods assistance, and fight the production and
trafficking of drugs. The partnership will be anchored in the
constitutions of our two countries, and will be guided by the
United States and Afghanistan's respective obligations under
the United Nations Charter and other international agreements
and conventions.
Decades of civil war, political violence, and interference in
Afghanistan's internal affairs make Afghanistan's security,
sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity particularly
crucial areas for U.S.-Afghan cooperation. To enhance Afghanistan's
long-term democracy, prosperity, and security, we intend to
work closely together:
FOR DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
• Support democratic good governance and the development
of civil society based on the rule of law and human rights and
encourage broad-based political participation in Afghanistan.
• Help build strong, lasting Afghan Government and civic
institutions and support political traditions that are efficient
and responsive to the needs of the Afghan people.
• Encourage the advancement of freedom and democracy in
the wider region.
• Support Afghanistan's initiative to restore the country's
historic role as a land bridge connecting Central and South
Asia and to shift the pattern of regional relations from rivalry
to economic and political cooperation.
• Foster cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors
and deter meddling in its internal affairs.
• Support people-to-people exchanges and partnerships
to strengthen ties between American and Afghan society, thereby
fostering common outlooks and collaboration on the challenges
and opportunities before us.
FOR PROSPERITY
• Facilitate and support Afghanistan's integration into
regional and world economies and appropriate international organizations.
• Help develop a legal and institutional framework for
a thriving private sector and an environment favorable to international
investment in Afghanistan.
• Encourage and facilitate involvement of U.S. businesses
in ventures that accelerate the development of Afghan firms
and the private sector.
• Continue the reconstruction of Afghanistan and investments
in the people of Afghanistan and encourage other nations to
do so.
FOR SECURITY
• Help organize, train, equip, and sustain Afghan security
forces as Afghanistan develops the capacity to undertake this
responsibility.
• Consult with respect to taking appropriate measures
in the event that Afghanistan perceives that its territorial
integrity, independence, or security is threatened or at risk.
• Assist the Afghan Government in security sector reform.
• Continue to conduct counter-terrorism operations in
cooperation with Afghan forces.
• Support Coalition assistance to the Afghan Government's
counter-narcotics programs.
• Continue intelligence sharing.
• Strengthen Afghanistan's ties with NATO.
• Support border security initiatives.
It is understood that in order to achieve the objectives contained
herein, U.S. military forces operating in Afghanistan will continue
to have access to Bagram Air Base and its facilities, and facilities
at other locations as may be mutually determined and that the
U.S. and Coalition forces are to continue to have the freedom
of action required to conduct appropriate military operations
based on consultations and pre-agreed procedures.
As Afghan Government capabilities increase, Afghanistan will
continue to cooperate against terrorism, to promote regional
security, and to combat the drug trade; the Afghan Government,
over time, will move to assume Afghan security force sustainment
costs; and the Afghan Government intends to maintain capabilities
for the detention, as appropriate, of persons apprehended in
the War on Terror.
As Afghanistan develops its political system, the United States
looks to Afghanistan to respect human rights and develop a just
and inclusive society. Regular, free, and fair democratic elections,
a free press, and the active implementation of Afghanistan's
constitution are hallmarks of the necessary commitment to these
principles. The United States relies on the Government of Afghanistan
to maintain its firm commitment against the production, processing,
and trafficking of narcotics and to assume responsibility for
countering narcotics as police, prosecutorial, and prison capacity
is developed and enhanced. Finally, the United States relies
on Afghanistan's commitment to create a legal framework and
an environment favorable to private sector and domestic and
international investment that offers economic opportunities
to all Afghan people.
The Afghan people have made tremendous sacrifices and shown
great courage in the pursuit of freedom. The United States shares
their vision of a country that is democratic, at peace, and
working to improve the lives of all Afghans and that plays an
important and positive role in the affairs of the region and
the world. We are confident that the U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership
will play a central role in helping Afghanistan achieve these
goals.
For the United States of America: For the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan:
President George W. Bush President Hamid Karzai
Released by Office of the Spokesperson to the
President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
For further information, please contact:
• Khaleeq Ahmad, Tel. 00 93 70 286
853
