Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Senate Oks Strategic Deal with Germany

Senate Oks Strategic Deal with Germany

KABUL - The Meshrano Jirga -- or the upper house of parliament -- on Sunday approved the strategic cooperation accord between Afghanistan and Germany.

The pact, signed between President Hamid Karzai and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 2012 in Berlin, was approved by majority of senators.

Under the strategic agreement, Germany would assist Afghanistan in areas of higher education, the judiciary, health and civil aviation, a member of the Senate Commission on International Affairs said.

Under the deal, Najiba Hussaini told Pajhwok Afghan News, Germany would advise Afghanistan on exploiting its mineral resources and dealing with economic issues.

The pact also envisages cooperation in the field of defense through military training and other bilateral programs. Both instruments will be renegotiated annually on the basis of available capacity, previous scope of use and their efficiency.

Military aid includes the training of members of Afghan armed forces in Bundeswehr facilities in Germany. Bilateral annual programs are based on the principle of reciprocity. Separate agreements shall regulate the temporary residence of Afghan armed forces' personnel in Germany.

Germany will make an appropriate contribution to financing Afghan security forces (army and police), as agreed at the International Conference on Afghanistan in Bonn on December 5, 2011.

The main emphasis of development cooperation will be on sustainable economic development, formal basic and vocational education, energy supply, water sector and good governance. (Pajhwok)