MY DIARY PAGES ( July 08--15) by-Balwantsingh Bisht/ AMERICAN POLICY ON AFGHANISTAN

 AMERICAN POLICY ON AFGHANISTAN  / MY DIARY PAGES ( July 08--15)

Introduction: In MY DIARY PAGES, I take different topics today. American Policy on Afganistan, Tokyo Olympic without spectators, Fear of the third wave of the corona, Italy in Final after 9 years.Jeff Bezos v/s Richard Branson.Pandemic and Education. All these topics touch the bottom of the heart of the people. The result is awaited and all the people are in wait and watch the situation. The result is expected to come in a couple of weeks.

AMERICAN POLICY ON AFGANISTAN 

U.S.-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic ties with Afghanistan in 1935. Afghanistan remains an important partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism, working with us to eliminate al-Qa’ida, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), and their affiliates in Afghanistan. In order to strengthen Afghanistan’s capabilities as a partner, and to improve the lives of the Afghan people, we continue to invest U.S. resources to help Afghanistan improve its security, governance, institutions, and economy.

U.S. Security Support for Afghanistan

The United States military has been engaged in Afghanistan since shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. In 2003, NATO assumed leadership of the United Nations-mandated International Security Assistance Force Mission (ISAF). At its height, ISAF included more than 130,000 troops from 51 NATO and partner nations. ISAF forces fought alongside the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) as the international community worked to improve ANDSF capabilities. U.S. force levels peaked at roughly 100,000 in 2011, and began to decrease through 2014, as the ANDSF gained strength. There have been more than 2,400 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001, and over 20,000 U.S. service members have been wounded in action. U.S. casualties in Afghanistan peaked at 499 in 2010 and dropped sharply to an average of about 17 per year after January 2015, when Afghan forces assumed full responsibility for combat operations against the Taliban.

 In July 2012, following the entry into force of the SPA, the United States designated Afghanistan a Major Non-NATO Ally. The South Asia Strategy announced in August 2017 outlined conditions for a political process between the Taliban and the Afghan government that could lead to a peace settlement to end the conflict in Afghanistan. The Strategy for Central Asia announced in February 2020, envisioned expanding and maintaining support for stability in Afghanistan, as well as strengthening connectivity between Central Asia and Afghanistan.

U.S. Assistance to Afghanistan

The United States is part of a coalition of more than 100 countries and organizations that provide both security and civilian assistance to Afghanistan. The United States and more than 30 other nations provide financial support to the ANDSF. The international community made almost $5 billion available for the ANDSF in 2019, with the United States providing the greatest share. NATO allies and operational partners pledged $379.9 million for 2020 in conjunction with October 19, 2020, Afghan National Army Trust Fund plenary in Brussels.

The United States development assistance focuses on promoting peace, self-reliance, and stability including through programs to increase economic growth via an export-oriented trade strategy; enhancing the capacity of civilian institutions, improving the performance of the justice system, and helping the government maintain and improve upon the gains made over the last decade in the health, education, and women’s rights. The United States also provides support for Afghan civil society, promotes increased respect for human rights, helps to fight the illegal trade in narcotics, and continues to provide significant humanitarian support.

Economic Relations

The United States supports efforts to improve Afghanistan’s business climate, including strengthening Afghanistan’s commercial, regulatory, and legal framework to attract foreign trade and investment, as well as to stimulate additional trade with the United States and regional partners through trade capacity development. Afghanistan signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States in 2004, which is the primary forum for bilateral trade and investment discussions between the two countries.

Political Relations

The United States remains committed to Afghanistan’s political stability, democratic governance, and productive bilateral and multilateral relations. Following the controversial 2014 presidential election in Afghanistan, the United States called for and financially supported the United Nations audit of the vote, and helped mediate a political agreement that resulted in the creation of the National Unity Government.

 After a three-year delay, the Afghan government held parliamentary elections in October 2018. Presidential elections were held in September 2019 and the incumbent, President Ashraf Ghani, was announced the winner in February 2020, following several months of election audits. The United States fully supports efforts to reform Afghanistan’s electoral institutions, strengthen its justice sector, and promote public accountability and transparency.

Afghanistan’s Membership in International Organizations

Afghanistan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Afghanistan also is a Partner for Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and joined the World Trade Organization in 2016.

Bilateral Representation

Ambassador Ross Wilson became Chargé d’Affaires to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in January 2020; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Afghanistan maintains an embassy  in the United States at 2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 '

PRESENT SITUATION IN AFGANISTAN

The political situation in Afganistan is gradually disturbing and leading to nuisance. The continuous warlike situation in Afganistan, meantime the U.S. decision to withdraw the U.S.Army from Afganistan has worsened the situation of the country. Taliban is growing its power day by day. Taliban has captured two districts of Kandhar. The name of the two districts, are Panjwai and Yawan. 150 Afgan soldiers surrendered and joined the Taliban. The fall of Panjwai in the province of Kandahar comes two days after U.S. and NATO forces vacated their main Bagram airbase.

India Calls back Her Citizens From Afganistan

The Taliban has threatened NATO to leave Afganistan totally before the scheduled date. They would take NATO soldiers as an enemy. The Taliban has also warned  China and Pakistan. The Indian government is discussing the issues if the Indians working in many projects as well as in embassies should be called to India from Afganistan. There are 1700 Indians in Afganistan. 500 Indians are employeeS of Indian EMBASSYand other offices. After the fall down of the Taliban in 2001, India helped the Afgan government and invested $ 3 billion dollars in different projects, road construction, dam constructions. The Indian Army provides army training to Afgan Troops.

U.S.President Joe Biden's Announcement

US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

The U.S. President announced that the military campaign in Afghanistan would end on 31st August in place of 11 September. The time limit of pull out the American Army is reduced. The US. President Joe Biden said the Afghan people should decide their destiny which government they prefer. He announced in White House that the decision of pulling out the Army is right. America has done its duty by killing Obama Bin Laden the accused of 9/11. The terrorist camps are destroyed after 9/11. He claimed it's the right time now to pull out the American army from Afghanistan.