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PM David Cameron and President Karzai Press ConferenceChargé d’AffairesCounsellorFirst Secretary Political AffairsLinksFirst Secretary Political AffairsSecond SecretaryDefense AttachéPress and Information OfficerPA to Chargé d’AffairesProtocol OfficerThe International Afghanistan ConferenceMillennium Development Goal 2 ‘Education for All’Consular StaffApplying for Visaد تعليمي نصاب كتابونه ـــــ كتاب هاي نصاب تعليميUK Prime Minister visits AfghanistanPresident Karzai Saddened by Plane CrashPresident Karzai and PM David Cameron agree to strenghten tiesBonn AgreementAfghanistan CompactAfghanistan National Development StrategyIndependent DirectoratesGovernment CommissionsAfghan Diplomatic MissionsKarzai VideoInvesting in AfghanistanTravel InformationApplying for Passport/ExtensionCertificate of Birth/Identity/NationalityMarriage certificatePower of Attorney وکالتنامهInheritance Registration حصر وراثتLEGALISATION تأئید اسنادConsular FormsSpeechesMessage from the AmbassadorAfghan Foreign Minister receives Egyptian, US and Japanese OfficialsAfghanistan in BriefAddress & Location MapMinistry of Foreign Affairs co-hostes 2008 OSCE-Afghanistan ConferenceText of Dr Spanta speech at the Afghanistan-OSCE Conference in KabulBiography
PM David Cameron and President Karzai Press Conference
Date: Jan 28, 2012
 The Prime Minister and President Karzai of Afghanistan have given a press conference following their meeting at Chequers where they signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership.
Chargé d’Affaires
Date: Dec 16, 2011
Dr. Hameed Haami Chargé d'Affaires Tel: 020 7589 8891 email: hameedhaami[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Counsellor
Date: Dec 15, 2011
M. Hanif Ahmadzai Counsellor Tel: 020 7589 8891 email: counselor[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk First Secretary Political Affairs
Date: Dec 14, 2011
Najibullah Mohajer First Secretary Political Affairs Tel: 020 7225 4754 email: mohajer[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Links
Date: Dec 13, 2011
First Secretary Political Affairs
Date: Dec 13, 2011
Sayed M. Payenda First Secretary Political Affairs Tel: 020 7225 4757 email: consular[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Second Secretary
Date: Dec 12, 2011
Nazifa Haqpal Second Secretary Defense Attaché
Date: Dec 11, 2011
Major N. Marzee Deputy Defence Attaché Tel: 020 7225 4751 email: defenceattache[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Press and Information Officer
Date: Dec 11, 2011
Hanif Aman Press and Information Officer email: politicalsection2[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk PA to Chargé d’Affaires
Date: Dec 11, 2011
Khatera Paiwastoon PA to Chargé d'Affaires Tel: 020 7589 8891 email: contacts[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Protocol Officer
Date: Dec 10, 2011
Wais Ibrahime Protocol Officer email: mrwais[@]hotmail.com The International Afghanistan Conference
Date: Dec 06, 2011
 Ten years after the Bonn Conference of 2001, the international community is meeting in Bonn again on 5 December 2011. Together with Afghanistan, the goal is to give concrete shape to the international community’s long-term joint engagement and to advance the further political process in the country. The Bonn Conference is focusing on three issues: - The civil aspects of the process of transferring responsibility to the Government of Afghanistan by 2014, - The long-term involvement of the international community in Afghanistan after 2014 and, - The political process that should lead to a long-term stabilization of the country.  Conference Conclusions - Click Here Statement By H.E Hamid Karzai President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Millennium Development Goal 2 ‘Education for All’
Date: Dec 02, 2011
 Millennium Development Goal 2, ‘Education for All’ is being pursued by the Afghan government and many non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan. Afghan Connection along with its 3 partner organisations – The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, People in Peril (Slovakia) and the Jaan Tonisson Institute (Estonia), held a MDG 2 Awareness Event at the House of Parliament on the 24th of November. Mr. Farooq Wardak, Minister for Education was able to clarify the difficulties faced by the government in providing an education for Afghans around the country. A copy of a letter wherein difficulties faced by Afghan students were expressed was presented to Mr. Farooq Wardak, Minster for Education and Rt.Hon. Alan Duncan, The Minister for International Development in the UK. The main objective of MDG 2 is to ensure that by 2020, children throughout Afghanistan will be able to complete a full course of primary education. Visit Gallery Consular Staff
Date: Nov 30, 2011
Ahmad Jamshed Vice Consul email: viceconsul[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Sadia Ludmila Hasanzada Visa Officer emails: consulate[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk visasection[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Hamayoon Taraki Consular Assistant email: passport[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Hassibullah Tauwhidi Consular Assistant email: certificates[@]afghanistanembassy.org.uk Sayed Najib Sadat Consular Assistant Sayed Qasim Raufi Consular Assistant Applying for Visa
Date: Mar 09, 2010
Visa Application Guidelines
The Embassy of Afghanistan in London issues visas to individuals residing in, and applying from United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. Due to regulatory constraints, we can only issue single entry visas valid for a one-month stay. Those wishing to stay longer in Afghanistan can apply to the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul for an extension of their visa. Under exceptional circumstances, double and multiple entry visas for a period of up to six months can be issued. Applications for ordinary, business, employment and tourist visas must be made in person, however applications for Diplomatic and Service visas and for government employees can be made by post and in person. Applications will be processed in order of their receipt by the Consular Section. Applications that are incomplete and/or are missing necessary documentation will not be processed. Checklist of requirements All applicants, whether applying by post or in person, must submit the following items as part of their application package: Application processing fee and postage cost
Payment method Applying by post All postal applications must be sent by REGISTERED MAIL to the following address: Applying in person Applicants may apply in person by visiting the Consular Section of the Embassy (see the address above) during the section’s official opening hours which are as follows: Application: Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 13:30pm Collection: Monday through Friday from 2:30am to 3:30pm View Embassy address on a map. Processing time After the Embassy has received completed application(s) with all the necessary documents and payments, visa will be issued within four to six working days. Applicants applying by post, must take into consideration that it takes two working days for their registered documents to reach us and two days for them to receive the documents back. Therefore, applicants are requested to avoid making any travel arrangements before obtaining their visas. The Embassy will not accept any responsibility for delay in obtaining your visas or changes in your travel plans. Return of original documents All original documents submitted as part of visa application will be returned to the applicant after the due process. Application Forms If you have read the information given above and are ready to applying, please download a Visa Application form from the following link:
د تعليمي نصاب كتابونه ـــــ كتاب هاي نصاب تعليمي
Date: Nov 17, 2009
 د پوهني وزارت د تعليمي نصاب كتابونه كتاب هاي نصاب تعليمي وزارت معارف www.pashto.moe.gov.af www.dari.moe.gov.af UK Prime Minister visits Afghanistan
Date: Feb 20, 2009
July 4th, Prime Minister David Cameron has travelled to Afghanistan to visit troops at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province. During his visit, Mr Cameron met troops and held a meeting with Governor Mangal and US General David Petraeus before heading to Kabul for talks with President Karzai. In a press conference in Kabul, the PM insisted the campaign against the Taliban in Helmand Province was having “success” and the transition to Afghan security control was “on track”. He also said that tomorrow in the Commons he would be announcing a “modest reduction” in British troops for 2012, on top of the 450 already due to withdraw this year. Mr Cameron and President Karzai announced the creation of an Afghan National Officer Academy. The institution will be modelled on Britain’s Sandhurst, and aim to produce high quality platoon leaders. It will open its doors in 2013, and accept 1,350 recruits annually with some 120 UK troops involved in the training. Mr Cameron said it would provide the “Afghan army officers of the future”. Yesterday, the PM addressing US and British troops as the US celebrated Independence Day, and praised the long military history the two countries have shared serving and fighting side by side. President Karzai Saddened by Plane Crash
Date: Nov 17, 2008
Arg, Kabul – H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was deeply saddened by an Afghan passenger plane crash in which all on board were killed. A passenger plane of the private Pamir Airliner en route from northern Kundoz province to Kabul presumably crashed Monday in Salang Pass with 44 people on board including its. President Karzai instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other relevant authorities to put to use all resources to locate and investigate the cause of the crash. President Hamid Karzai extends deep sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims. President Karzai and PM David Cameron agree to strenghten ties
Date: Nov 13, 2008
July 4th, 2011 The British Prime Minister visited Afghanistan on 4th July 2011 in which he stated that the withrawal of the British troops from Afghanistan would be a gradual process. He emphasised that war in Afghanistan has entered a new phase and this is the reason for the withrawal of a segment of British troops from Afghanistan. He mentioned that the withrawal of the troops at the initial stage would not be substantial. He stated that major changes on this matter will not be implemented untill next year. According to reports some of 400 soldiers will return while 9500 will stay. PM then met Presiden Karzai in Kabul in which they discussed a framewok for deepening relations between the two countries. Both leaders emphasised on long term cultural, economic and military co-operations. Bonn Agreement
Date: Nov 13, 2008
Officially the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, the Bonn Agreement was the initial series of agreements intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan in response to September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, an invasion which ended the twenty-plus-year-long Afghan Civil War. Since no nationally-agreed-upon government had existed in Afghanistan since 1979, it was felt necessary to have a transition period before a permanent government was established. A nationally-agreed-upon government would require at least one loya jirga to be convened; however, in the absence of law and order in the wake of the rapid victory of American and Afghan Northern Allaince forces, immediate steps were felt to be required.
Download detailed "The Bonn Agreement" in PDF format. Afghanistan Compact
Date: Nov 13, 2008
Determined to strengthen their partnership to improve the lives of Afghan people, and to contribute to national, regional, and global peace and security; Afghanistan National Development Strategy
Date: Nov 13, 2008
This Government's vision for Afghanistan is fully consistent with our Islamic and cultural values as statedin our Constitution. In the next fifteen years, we aim to ensure that Afghanistan meets all of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).If we achieve this vision, we will all but eliminate extreme poverty and hunger in Afghanistan. All our children, boys and girls alike, will complete their primary educations. Afghanistan'swomen will enjoy greater equity in education, political participation and justice. We will cut by more than half the number of children dying before they reach five, and the number of mothers that die in childbirth. We will halt the spread of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases and ensure that our development is environmentally sustainable. And we will accomplish all of this through a strong partnership with the international community that helps to provide the security and to support the stable political environment upon which our economic development will depend. Each year, we will review our progress towards our MDGs and our I-ANDS benchmarks and make adjustments in our five-year fiscal framework and our annual budget. These relationships can be represented as follows: Independent Directorates
Date: Nov 13, 2008
Government directorates are established to function within the executive branch of the government. Directorates can propose acts and regulations for better management of their activities. The head of the departments are appointed by the President and approved by the NA.
Government Commissions
Date: Nov 13, 2008
The Government of Afghanistan has established a number of Commissions in various fields which are considered to be vital for Afghanistan's overall development. They include:
Afghan Diplomatic Missions
Date: Nov 13, 2008
Alphabetical list of Afghan Embassies and Consulates |
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Ambassador 
| Passport Application Form |  | |
| رهنمود صدور و تمدید پاسپورت | فارسی | |
| دپاسپورت د صدور او د تمدید لارښود | Pashto | |
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING:
The Embassy of Afghanistan in London issues passports only to Afghans residing in, and applying from, United Kingdom of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Under current regulations, the Embassy can only issue ordinary passports. For other types of passport, such diplomatic, service, student and so on, you can apply at the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. On exceptional basis, the Consular section at the Embassy may extend the validity of service or student passports.
Applications that are incomplete and/or are missing necessary documentation will not be processed and the fee is not refundable.
Checklist of requirements for new passports and passport extensions
APPLICANTS FOR NEW PASSPORTS MUST
· Complete and duly sign the relevant application form. Application forms are available in three languages (Dari, Pashto and English) and can be accessed from the application forms section below or consular forms.
· Provide two standard passport size photos affixed to the appropriate box in the application form. Passport photos must be fresh, identical and taken directly off the face to show both ears.
· Provide original documents verifying their Afghan identity, including a Tazkira, a previous passport, a marriage certificate endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, and valid educational or professional documents.
· However, the decision will be made based on an interview, to verify their identity, Applicants who does not have any original documents, must bring with them two Afghan Identity Guarantors. Identity guarantee forms can be printed from the application forms section below.
APPLICANTS FOR PASSPORT EXTENSIONS MUST
· Complete and duly sign the relevant application form in any of the three support languages. Forms can be accessed from the application forms section below.
· Submit their current passport. Passport must have available space for extension on specified pages, otherwise extension is not possible.
· Provide one standard passport size photo affixed to the appropriate box in the application form
ALL APLICANTS MUST
· Submit documents verifying their current residency status
· Submit documents, such as utility bills, municipal documents, etc from their respective countries, to verify their current address.
· Make the necessary payments –non refundable- (see the fees and payment tables below)
· Pay the cost of return registered post to receive their passports and documents, if necessary.
Processing fees and postage cost
Standard processing fees for NEW PASSPORTS (non-refundable):
| Passport Validity Period | Amount in Pounds |
| One year | 17 |
| Two years | 34 |
| Three years | 50 |
| Four years | 67 |
| Five years | 75 |
Standard processing fees for PASSPORT EXTENSIONS (non-refundable):
| Passport Extension Period | Amount n Pounds |
| For each year of extension | 15 |
Payment method
1. Passport fees and all other consular charges are ONLY payable in Pounds or US$. Payment in any other currency will not be accepted.
2. Passport fees and all consular charges must be paid by BANK CHEQUE (certified cheque) made payable to ‘The Embassy of Afghanistan, London’. Payment by cash will not be accepted.
Applying by post
Applying by post is not acceptable.
Consular Hours
Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 13:30pm
View Embassy address on a map.
The Consular Section is closed outside these hours as well as on Saturdays and Sundays.
Processing time
After the Embassy has received completed application(s) with all the necessary documents and payments, a passport will be issued within five working days.
Extension of a passport will take place on the same day.
If necessary, the consulate section of the Embassy will contact relevant offices to verify the status of the documents before extending the passport. In this case, the passport will remain with the consulate section of the Embassy.
Telephone: +44 2075898891-2
Address:
Consulate Section
31 Princes Gate
Exhibition Road
London, SW7 1QQ
Certificate of Birth/Identity/Nationality
| Certificate of Birth/Identity/Nationality | English | |
Marriage certificate
| File Name | Language | Format |
| Marriage Certificate Form | Dari&English | |
| رهنمود صدور و تاييد نکاحنامه | دری | |
Power of Attorney وکالتنامه
| File Name | Language | Format |
| Power of Attorney (فورمه وکالتنامه) | Dari&English | |
| رهنمود صدور وکالتنامه | دری | |
Inheritance Registration حصر وراثت
| File Name | Language | Format |
| inheritance registration form (حصر وراثت) | Dari&English | |
| رهنمود درخواست حصر وراثت | دری | |
LEGALISATION تأئید اسناد
LEGALISATION & AUTHENTICATION/ATTESTATION
Legalisation (apostille) is an official means of confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a specific document is genuine. Legalised documents are often required when travelling overseas to work or study or to set up an office of a company.
Within the UK, document legalisation tends to fall under two categories:
1. UK government legalisation conducted by the Foreign Commonwealth Office
2. UK based foreign Embassy legalization
The type of documents that have to be legalised varies from country to country but the most common documents requiring legalisation are educational and medical certificates. Companies intending to set up offices in Afghanistan usually require their Certificate of Incorporation to be legalised.
The legalisation of documents is conducted by a UK government official at the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO verifies the stamp/signature on the document and then attaches an apostille (legalisation certificate) to confirm that it is genuine.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in London will legalise United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland academic qualifications only, provided they are certified by either the FCO or the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs respectively.
Fee: 20 GBP/document
فارغ التحصیلان افغانی دانشگاه های بریتانیا، بایست اسناد شان را مطابق مراحل فوق تائید کرده و در پایان تصدیق سفارت افغانستان در لندن را اخذ کنند. تنها در این صورت وزارت تحصیلات عالی افغانستان به ارزیابی اسناد فراغت شان می پردازد
Consular Forms
| File Name | نام فایل | Format |
| Afghan Passport Application form | فورمه اخذ و تمدید پاسپورت | |
| Visa Application Form | فورمه ویزه | |
| Power of Attorney Application form | وکالتنامه | |
| Inheritance's Application form | حصر وراثت | |
| فورمه تایید هویت | تایید هویت | |
| Request for Criminal background check | در خواست تایید عدم مسئولیت جرمی | |
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| General Information About Attestations | معلومات عمومی در مورد تصادیق | |
Speeches
Message from the Ambassador
Dear visitor,
Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Afghanistan in London, United Kingdom.
We are happy to provide some information and references that may help you learn more about Afghanistan and through the website we also wish to bring you closer to the services the Embassy provides with more convenience.
We are currently updating this site to provide useful and more comprehensive data and services that will enable you to interact with us. The purpose of this site is to allow our British and Afghan visitors to take advantage of the available information compiled on the internet, news updates, and online consular forms.
The Afghan Embassy is committed to both promoting strong ties between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan and to serving the Afghan population in the United Kingdom.
The Embassy of Afghanistan
London,
United Kingdom
Afghan Foreign Minister receives Egyptian, US and Japanese Officials
Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Spanta received separately visiting Deputy Foreign Minster of Egypt, Mr. Rau'f Adly Sa'ad el-Kharrat , President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ms President Sadako Ogata and US assistant secretary for South and Central Asia Mr.Richard Boucher . At these meetings Dr Spanta exchanged views with visiting foreign officials issues of mutual interest and concern. By highlighting Afghanistan’s achievements since the collapse of the Taliban’s regime Afghan Foreign Minister emphasized the need for the continuing engagement and long-term commitment of the international community to help Afghanistan overcome its remaining challenges and actualize its great potentials as a catalyst for regional cooperation. On their part, the Egyptian, US and Japanese officials reiterated their respective countries’ resolve to remain engaged with Afghanistan.
Afghanistan in Brief
Land and PeopleGeneral Facts and Statistics
Area: 647,500 sq. km. (249,935 sq. mi.), slightly smaller than Texas
Capital: Kabul, 2,000,000 (approx.)
Population: 29,863,000 (2005 est.)
Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, coal, cooper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use: Arable land 12% Permanent pastures 46% Forests and woodland 3% Other 39%
Literacy rate: 28.7 percent (UN Afghanistan Human Development Report of 2005)
Address & Location Map
Postal Address and Contact Details
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Consulate Section
31 Princes Gate
London, SW7 1QQ
Phone: +44- (020) 75898891
Fax: +44- (020) 7581 3452
Information: info[#]afghanistanembassy.org.uk
(replace '[#]' with '@' before sending e-mail)
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 09:30 am - 13:30 pm
The Consular Section is closed outside these hours as well as on Saturdays and Sundays.
Location Map
Nearest Underground Tube station: South Kensington Station. For a local street map, click here.
View Larger Map
Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hostes 2008 OSCE-Afghanistan Conference
Afghanistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs , Dr Spanta opened 2008 OSCE-Afghanistan Conference. Over forty delegations from the Organization for Security and cooperation in Europe as well as its Asian partners were present.
The theme of this conference will be "Strengthening co-operation between the OSCE and its Asian Partners for Co-operation to address challenges to security." Since 2000, the OSCE and its Asian Partners for Co-operation have been organizing conferences with the aim of exchanging experiences in all three OSCE dimensions of security. This year's conference will be held for the first time in Afghanistan.
The debate will focus on issues across the three dimensions, including the OSCE's contribution to capacity-building in the OSCE region and the Asian Partners for Co-operation; threats to the common security and stability of the OSCE participating States and the Asian Partners for Co-operation, with particular attention to Central Asia and Afghanistan; and challenges and opportunities in border security and management, including customs modernization
Text of Dr Spanta speech at the Afghanistan-OSCE Conference in Kabul
Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Hosting the 2008 OSCE-Afghanistan Conference in Kabul is a great honor for us. On behalf of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I would like to welcome you all to this significant and important event. Let me also convey the best wishes of President Karzai for a successful conference. This conference is a clear example of the mutual cooperation between our countries. Our gathering here today evidences our commitment to implement the principles, values, and goals of the OSCE. Individually and collectively, the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation have the potential to contribute to securing the environment within the OSCE area and beyond. This potential can only be realized, though, if cooperation between the OSCE and its Asian Partners strengthens. None among us today is stranger to the hardships endured by Afghanistan over the past three decades. Afghanistan has paid a great price in its struggle against foreign occupation, terrorism, and imposed conflicts. Seven years ago, this city, and the rest of the country was besieged by an oppressive and surrogate Taliban regime. Afghanistan was a safe haven for terrorists and territory without state institutions. However, with the sacrifices of our people, and the support of our international partners, many of whom are present here today, we have opened a new chapter in our modern history. Today, we continue to march slowly, but tenaciously in our journey towards a stable and prosperous Afghanistan. During recent years, Afghanistan has taken great strides in that path. We have transitioned to electoral democracy. We now have a modern and progressive constitution. Thousands of schools have been built across the country, where children are investing in their future. Afghans today enjoy more political, social and economic rights that any time in the country’s history. Afghan women have regained their status as an active member of society, demonstrating their competence and commitment to democracy. The significant number of women in our National Assembly is one example. Just this month, President Karzai gathered hundreds of women from across Afghanistan to engage openly and honestly in a discussion on security and human rights. We will continue to work diligently to achieve our human rights objectives by increasing capacity to report on our human rights treaty obligations by the end of 2010. Our liberal media policy has enabled the presence of 20 independent and privately owned TV stations across the country. This is in addition to the more than40 Radio stations and around 400 periodicals published without governmental influence. Despite the incredible progress Afghanistan has made, we acknowledge the many challenges that lie ahead. To address those challenges, we have embarked on a comprehensive strategy which focuses on three key pillars: security, social and economic development and good governance. Our efforts will be conducted within the framework of the Afghanistan Compact and our national development strategy. Terrorism continues to be our number one challenge. Over recent months, we have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of terrorist attacks. While Afghanistan has borne the brunt of terrorist violence, the scourge has now spread across the wider region like a wild-fire. Until recently, extremist circles in the region remained mainly focused on destabilizing Afghanistan. However, now terrorist violence is also directed within the territory of Pakistan. Let us be clear in stating that terrorism will not go away until we deal with this manes as an international serious challenge with regional bases and sources. To achieve success in the fight against terrorism, we must eliminate secure sanctuaries which train, harbor and equip terrorists. Afghanistan attaches great importance to its relations with the brotherly government of Pakistan. We remain committed to enhanced cooperation to address our common threat and utilize the enormous potential in the region for becoming the anchor of peace, moderation and prosperity for the entire region. Enhanced collaboration and cooperation will be utmost importance to eliminate the scourge of extremism, militancy and terrorism. Ladies and Gentlemen, As a measure to assume a greater responsibility in addressing our security challenges, we have prioritized Afghani-zation of the security sector among our top priorities. Investing in Afghanistan’s security sector is a long-term and sustainable solution to maintaining democracy and confronting terrorism. To enable us to succeed as an independent and secure nation, we urge our international partners to redouble efforts to increase the operational capacity of our security forces by accelerating the training and equipping of the Afghan national army and police. Narcotics remain a key threat not only to Afghanistan’s national security, but also the regional and global stability. The magnitude of the narcotics challenge requires a comprehensive strategy, one which should include enhanced regional and global efforts. The challenge of addressing the narcotics threat is compounded by activities of elaborate and well-organized trafficking groups who seek to reap benefits from the drug-trade. Accordingly, a successful fight against this scourge will require increased efforts to reduce demand and consumption. It is worth mentioning: trafficking of narcotics goes two ways: Drugs are transported from Afghanistan to consumers abroad, but the precursors are entered to Afghanistan from abroad. Consequently, regional and international cooperation on the basis of shared responsibility is essential and critical. In our part, we will continue to work towards the implementation of our National Drug Control Strategy. Our efforts have thus far resulted in increasing the number of poppy free provinces from 13-18. We will strive to consolidate those gains. Our counter-narcotics efforts are inextricably linked to our anti-corruption efforts. Afghanistan will spare no effort to address corruption wherever and whenever it occurs. In that spirit, the establishment of the Independent Anti-Corruption Administration is among the most recent of our efforts to address corruption and improve good-governance at the national level. Dear Colleagues, Afghanistan cherishes its partnership with the OSCE, and appreciates the Madrid Ministerial Council decision on OSCE engagement with Afghanistan. We applaud the OSCE secretariat initiatives that strengthen border security and management, foster cross border co-operation between the Central Asian participating States and Afghanistan, and enhance national law enforcement capacities in accordance with the MC decision. In addition, as you all witnessed in 2004 and 2005, the elections encouraged the participation of all Afghans in the democratic process after four long decades. As the calendar nears the 2009 Presidential election in Afghanistan, we welcome and invite the observation of ODHIR in our general election to contribute in the legitimacy of the election outcome. Finally, let me say that we are grateful to the Finnish Chairmanship of the OSCE, the Spanish Chairmanship of the Asian Contact Group, as well as the Secretary General for their tireless efforts and dedication to Afghanistan. Without you, this conference in Kabul would not have materialized. I am fully confident that the 2008 OSCE- Afghanistan Conference and the discourse among participants will be critical in further strengthening co-operation between the OSCE and its Asian Partners. Once again, I am honored to be here, and encourage you to engage fully and openly in this agenda. On behalf of my country, I thank you for being here, and I wish you all a successful conference!I thank you!
Biography
Please visit page: Charge d'Affaires