Afghanistan–United States relations

United States-Afghanistan relations can be traced back to over 150 years, to the early 1800s, when the first recorded person from America was visiting Afghanistan. [http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/LitMap/bios/Harlan__Josiah.html Biography of Josia Harlan] ]

History

In the 1940s, the United States established its first official embassy in Kabul. The first U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan was Cornelius Van Engert. [Frye, R. N. "Greater Iran". Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.28] The first U.S. President to visit Afghanistan was Dwight Eisenhower, who traveled to Kabul in 1959, where he met King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah. Closer relations between Afghanistan and the United States began to develop since then.

History

The first recorded contact between Afghanistan and the United States occurred in 1830s when Josiah Harlan, an American adventurer from the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, travelled to Afghanistan with intentions of becoming a king there. He became involved in the local Afghan politics and factional military actions, eventually winning the title Prince of Ghor in exchange for military aid. [http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/LitMap/bios/Harlan__Josiah.html Biography of Josia Harlan] ]

After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1934, the U.S. policy of helping developing nations raise their standard of living was an important factor in maintaining and improving U.S. ties with Afghanistan.U.S. Department of State - [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm#relations Background Note: Afghanistan] ]

In 1942, Major Gordon Enders of the United States Army was appointed "the first military attaché to the non-existent U.S. embassy in Kabul. He was the first envoy of any kind to be sent to represent the United States in Kabul." [Frye, R. N. "Greater Iran". Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.16] However, the first official United States Ambassador to Afghanistan was Cornelius Van Engert. [Frye, R. N. "Greater Iran". Mazda Publishers. 2005. ISBN 1-56859-177-2. p.28] The first official Afghanistan Ambassador to the United States was Habibullah Khan Tarzi who served from 1948 to 1953.

In the 1950s, the United States declined Afghanistan's request for defense cooperation but extended an economic assistance program focused on the development of Afghanistan's physical infrastructure--roads, dams, and power plants. Later, U.S. aid shifted from infrastructure projects to technical assistance programs to help develop the skills needed to build a modern economy.

Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Kabul in December 1959, becoming the first U.S. President to travel to Afghanistan. From 1950 to 1979, U.S. foreign assistance provided Afghanistan with more than $500 million in loans, grants, and surplus agricultural commodities to develop transportation facilities, increase agricultural production, expand the educational system, stimulate industry, and improve government administration.U.S. Department of State - [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm#relations Background Note: Afghanistan] ]

The Peace Corps was active in Afghanistan between 1962 and 1979. During the early 1960s former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, visited the United States and met with John F. Kennedy at the White House in Washington, DC.

After the April 1978 coup, relations deteriorated. In February 1979, U.S. Ambassador Adolph "Spike" Dubs was murdered in Kabul after Afghan security forces burst in on his kidnappers. The U.S. then reduced bilateral assistance and terminated a small military training program. All remaining assistance agreements were ended after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

During the Cold War

Following the Soviet invasion, the United States supported diplomatic efforts to achieve a Soviet withdrawal. In addition, generous U.S. contributions to the refugee program in Pakistan played a major part in efforts to assist Afghan refugees in need. U.S. efforts also included helping Afghans living inside Afghanistan. This cross-border humanitarian assistance program aimed at increasing Afghan self-sufficiency and helping Afghans resist Soviet attempts to drive civilians out of the rebel-dominated countryside. During the period of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the U.S. provided about 3 billion US dollars in military and economic assistance to the Afghan Mujahideens. The U.S. embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989 for security reasons.

War on Terrorism

Following the September 11 attacks in the United States, orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, who at the time was residing in Afghanistan under asylum, the United States launched an attack on the Taliban government and al Qaeda militants as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following the overthrow of the Taliban, the U.S. supported the new government of Afghanistan and continues to station thousands of U.S. troops in the country. Their aim is to help the new government of President Hamid Karzai establish authority all across Afghanistan and hunt down insurgents and other elements that are launching attacks in the country.

Afghanistan supported the 2003 Iraq War.

The United States is also the leading nation in the rebuilding or reconstruction of Afghanistan. It has been providing multi-billion US dollars in weapons and aid, as well as infrastructure development. [Bloomberg, [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aXSoMhOzDRVo&refer=home Bush to Seek as Much as $8 Billion for Afghanistan, Snow Says] By Judy Mathewson] In 2005, the United States and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement committing both nations to a long-term relationship.U.S. Department of State - [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm#relations Background Note: Afghanistan] ] U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on March 1, 2006. Hamid Karzai is hailed as an example of a great leader by most U.S. politicians, universities and media outlets everytime he visits the United States. Most U.S. politicians are impressed by the progress Afghanistan made under the leadership of President Hamid Karzai. [Pajhwok Afghan News, [http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=46619 US lawmakers laud Afghan progress under Karzai (December 6, 2007)] ]

ee also

*Foreign relations of Afghanistan
*Josiah Harlan, Prince of Ghor
*Opium production in Afghanistan
*United States Ambassador to Afghanistan

References

External links

* [http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/ Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C.]
* [http://kabul.usembassy.gov/ Embassy of the United States in Kabul]
* [http://uspolicy.belgium.usembassy.gov/issues/afghanistan/afghanistan.asp United States policy toward Afghanistan: a Dossier]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm U.S. Department of State - Background Note: Afghanistan]