In the German Bundestag, Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier looked back at Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan to date. Following the attacks on 11 September 2001 Germany and its allies accepted responsibility for Afghanistan, and still does on a large scale, stressed Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Taking stock of engagement

The Federal Foreign Minister took stock and described a mixed outcome of engagement in Afghanistan over recent years. He pointed to the still flourishing cultivation of drug crops and corruption, and admitted that violence still rules in many parts of the country.

On the other hand a lot has been achieved in development in Afghanistan. Average life expectancy has risen from 45 to 60, and maternal and child mortality rates have dropped dramatically. More than 200,000 students are now studying at the country’s universities.

These achievements would not have come about without the mission of the international community, declared Frank-Walter Steinmeier. At the same time he stressed that security is still fragile.

A new-look mission

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission will be wound up at the end of 2014. The follow-on Resolute Support Mission (RSM) is not a combat mission, but pursues a different philosophy, underlined Steinmeier in his speech.

The Resolute Support Mission is to further train, advise and support the Afghan security forces.

The resolution of the German government provides for deploying up to 850 soldiers. The mandate will run as of 1 January 2015 for an initial period of one year. The motion must still be approved by the German Bundestag.

Support to continue

Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan will not only be of a military nature, in the future as in the past. Germany is to invest 430 million euros a year until 2016 in civilian reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Steinmeier referred to the financing of Afghanistan’s security forces as a long-term strategic task. As of 2015, Germany will be making a substantial contribution here too. A sum of about 150 million euros will be provided every year. Of this sum, 80 million euros will go to the Afghan National Army, while 70 million euros are to be used to pay the salaries of the Afghan police forces.

Honouring victims

At the end of the 13-year mission we also look back at the lives lost, said Steinmeier in the plenary chamber of the Bundestag. More than 130,000 German soldiers have served in Afghanistan; 55 of them lost their lives. To this toll must be added the many injuries sustained, physical and mental. "We honour the victims and express our sincere sympathy with their families," declared the Federal Foreign Minister.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked all soldiers. Without their commitment, reconstruction and development would not have been possible. They deserve our utmost respect, he said. He also expressed his thanks to all police officers and civilian aid workers who have served in Afghanistan.