CIAO DATE: 02/2009
December 2008
Japan Institute of International Affairs
The state of Afghanistan remains fragile despite seven years of international assistance. Since 11 September 2001, the international community has focused on state-building and reconstruction in Afghanistan in the hopes of winning the "war on terror". However, in reality, anti-government forces have gained influence over the southern and eastern parts of the country, empowering the terrorist elements. The people's lives remain difficult, with weak government and rampant corruption. The initial confidence and hopes that people had toward the government and the international community have drastically diminished, leading them instead to rely reluctantly on anti-government forces for security and livelihood.
As a recent response, the international community signed the Afghanistan Compact at the London Conference in January 2006, promising assistance as the government progresses in the areas of governance, security and reconstruction. The international community also reaffirmed its continued commitment to assisting the country at the NATO Conference in April 2008, recognizing that the improvement of security in Afghanistan is the highest priority. However, despite the refocus on security sector reform and talks about NATO force expansion, the security situation has yet to improve.
Resource link: Afghanistan: Japan's Experiences Revisited [PDF] - 588K