You Can Count On Us

Hamid Karzai will leave Berlin somewhat disappointed.

On the first evening of his three-day visit to the German capital, Afghanistan’s interim leader repeated his desire to see Germany leading the ISAF peacekeeping force in Kabul. But Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer turned him down.

"We are ready to have the tactical lead for Kabul, but then we have reached our military limits because we have almost 8 000 troops in the Balkans," he said following his meeting with Karzai Wednesday evening.

Karzai got a similar response from Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who received him with military honors on Thursday.

Leading role in reconstruction efforts

But Schröder and Fischer confirmed Germany’s long-term commitment to helping Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister said the war-torn country needs to seize the opportunity to rebuild and requires long-term material aid for this undertaking.

"We are willing to help here," he said.

Germany will be involved in all aspects of rebuilding Afghanistan, Fischer said. This includes setting up a police force, reactivating the education system, restoring safety and clearing landmines and other discarded weapons.

The German government will open a project office in Kabul to coordinate international police training and equipping. German police will help Afghan authorities establish and train police forces in Kabul.

Fischer stressed that the German activities will concentrate on holding a tactical lead in Kabul.

Strong ties

In an interview with German television, Karzai said Germany enjoys great respect and trust in Afghanistan.

The leader, who has won kudos for his diplomatic style abroad but whose grip on power in Kabul remains tenuous, expressed hope that Germany will continue to stand by Afghanistan, with "patience to understand that a country that was at war for so many years cannot return to normality overnight."