After the December 1979 invasion, Afghanistan's foreign policy mirrored that of the Soviet Union. Afghan foreign policymakers attempted, with little success, to increase their regime's low standing in the noncommunist world. With the signing of the 1988 Geneva Accords, Najibullah unsuccessfully sought to end Afghanistan's isolation within the Islamic world and in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Most Western countries, including the United States, maintained small diplomatic missions in Kabul during the Soviet occupation. (Throughout the Soviet occupation, the U.S. did not recognize the Afghan regimes, and its mission was headed by a Charge d'Affaires rather than an Ambassador.) Many countries subsequently closed their missions due to instability and heavy fighting in Kabul.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates recognized the Taliban regime in 1997. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates withdrew recognition following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Repeated Taliban efforts to occupy Afghanistan's seat at the UN and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were unsuccessful.

The fall of the Taliban in October 2001 opened a new chapter in Afghanistan’s foreign relations. Afghanistan is now an active member of the international community, and has extended diplomatic relations with countries from around the world. In December 2002, the six nations that border Afghanistan signed a ‘Good Neighbor’ Declaration, in which they pledged to respect Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity.

The 1978 Marxist coup strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan took the lead diplomatically in the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference in opposing the Soviet occupation. During the war against the Soviet occupation, Pakistan served as the primary logistical conduit for the Afghan resistance.

Pakistan initially developed close ties to the Taliban regime, and extended recognition in 1997. This policy was not without controversy in Pakistan, where many objected to the Taliban's human rights record and radical interpretation of Islam. Following the Taliban's resistance to Islamabad's pressure to comply with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and surrender Osama bin Laden after the September 11, 2001attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, Pakistan dramatically altered its policy by closing its border and downgrading its ties.

Despite occasional tensions between the two countries, particularly along their shared border region, Afghanistan and Pakistan are engaged in ongoing dialogue to resolve their outstanding differences. Senior representatives from the two countries meet periodically through the Tripartite Commission, a U.S.-facilitated forum that offers both sides an opportunity to articulate views on specific issues and work toward common solutions. Both sides have much to gain from an improved relationship; much of Afghanistan has long relied on Pakistani links for trade and travel to the outside world, while Pakistan views Afghanistan as eventually becoming its primary route for trade with Central Asia.

Afghanistan's relations with Iran have fluctuated over the years, with periodic disputes over the water rights of the Helmand River as the main issue of contention. Following the Soviet invasion, which Iran opposed, relations deteriorated. The Iranian consulate in Herat closed, as did the Afghan consulate in Mashad. The Iranians complained of periodic border violations following the Soviet invasion. In 1985, they urged feuding Afghan Shi'a resistance groups to unite to oppose the Soviets. Iran supported the cause of the Afghan resistance and provided limited financial and military assistance to rebel leaders who pledged loyalty to the Iranian vision of Islamic revolution. Iran still provides refuge to about 1.4 million Afghans.

Following the emergence of the Taliban and their harsh treatment of Afghanistan's Shi'a minority, Iran stepped up assistance to the Northern Alliance. Relations with the Taliban deteriorated further in 1998 after Taliban forces seized the Iranian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif and executed Iranian diplomats.

Since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan’s relations with Iran have improved. Iran has been active in Afghan reconstruction efforts, particularly in the western portion of the country, and is constructing a road between their eastern border and Herat, a major trade route linking the two countries.

In the 19th century, Afghanistan served as a strategic buffer state between czarist Russia and the British Empire in the subcontinent. Afghanistan's relations with Moscow became more cordial after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. The Soviet Union was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Afghanistan after the Third Anglo-Afghan war and signed an Afghan-Soviet nonaggression pact in 1921, which also provided for Afghan transit rights through the Soviet Union. Early Soviet assistance included financial aid, aircraft and attendant technical personnel, and telegraph operators.

The Soviets began a major economic assistance program in Afghanistan in the 1950s. Between 1954 and 1978, Afghanistan received more than $1 billion in Soviet aid, including substantial military assistance. In 1973, the two countries announced a $200-million assistance agreement on gas and oil development, trade, transport, irrigation, and factory construction. Following the 1979 invasion, the Soviets augmented their large aid commitments to shore up the Afghan economy and rebuild the Afghan military. They provided the Karmal regime an unprecedented $800 million. The Soviet Union supported the Najibullah regime even after the withdrawal of Soviet troops in February 1989.

During the reign of the Taliban, Russia became increasingly disenchanted over Taliban support for Chechen rebels and for providing a sanctuary for terrorist groups active in Central Asia and in Russia itself. Russia provided military assistance to the Northern Alliance.

Though Afghanistan’s current government has improved relations with Russia, the sensitive history between the two countries has left deep scars and residual feelings of mistrust. Afghanistan’s outstanding foreign debt to Russia continues to be a source of contention.

Afghanistan's relations withTajikistan have been complicated by political upheaval and civil war in Tajikistan, which spurred some 100,000 Tajiks to seek refuge in Afghanistan in late 1992 and early 1993. Tajik rebels seeking to overthrow the Tajik government headed by Imamali Rahmanov began operating from Afghan bases and recruiting Tajik refugees into their ranks.

These rebels, reportedly aided by Afghans and a number of foreign Islamic extremists, conducted cross-border raids against Russian and Tajik security posts and sought to infiltrate fighters and materiel from Afghanistan into Tajikistan. Also disenchanted by the Taliban's harsh treatment of Afghanistan's Tajik minority, Tajikistan facilitated assistance to the Northern Alliance.

In the post-Taliban era, Afghanistan seeks closer ties with its northern neighbor in order to capitalize on the potential economic benefits of increased trade. A planned bridge span linking the two countries over the Amu Darya River is a tangible sign of this new collaboration.

India has a long history with Afghanistan as it was part of ancient India in the past. India has traditionally enjoyed good relations with the Afhan government. Relations deteriorated after the Taliban took power. After the fall of the Taliban, India resumed old ties. India has donated buses, aircraft and has imparted training to its fledgling police force. Trade consists of films, dry fruits etc.

The German - Afghani relationship is long and has been mostly cordial. Many Afghani academics studied in Germany, many more sought refuge in Germany during the years of civil war. There has been significant cultural exchange over the years. Several of the best secondary schools in Kabul are founded and supported by the German government.

Germany remains one of the most significant donors of foreign aid and partners in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

The Bonn agreement for the post Taliban governance of Afghanistan was debated and signed in the former seat of government fo Western Germany.

Political Relations

German-Afghan relations have a long and positive history. Germany has become a second home to almost 90,000 people of Afghan origin - more than are to be found in any other country in Europe.

The German Embassy in Kabul ceased operations in 1989. It was reopened at the beginning of December 2001, initially as a "German Liaison Office". The German Ambassador, accredited on 9 January 2002, was the first head of mission to present his credentials to the Interim Administration. He maintains close contact with the government and supervises German humanitarian aid and reconstruction projects.

Following the Bundestag decision of 24 October 2003, Germany is increasing its commitment in Afghanistan and is to establish external offices of the Kabul Embassy in Kunduz and Herat before the year is out. Germany is moreover establishing a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the area around Kunduz with a military component under the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan – a so-called "ISAF island".

Diplomatic relations from 1989 to 2001

Diplomatic relations with Afghanistan continued even in the period 1989 - 2001. They were however not maintained with the Taliban regime but with the Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance), which also represented the country in the United Nations. The Interim/Transitional Administration that has ruled the country since 22 December 2001 has been represented by an Ambassador in Berlin since the end of August 2002.

German Government efforts to end the civil war

Even during the Afghan civil war Germany was in dialogue with all parties to the conflict. The Federal Government was a staunch supporter of the United Nation's efforts to resolve the conflict. From 1994 onwards, Germany made a major contribution to the drafting of the annual General Assembly Resolutions on the political and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

The UN mission in Afghanistan, UNSMA, was headed by a member of the Federal Foreign Office, Dr Holl, as Special Representative of the Secretary-General from July 1996 to the end of 1997. UN resolution 55/243, which condemned the destruction of cultural property by the Taliban regime, was initiated by Germany and adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations with the support of a large majority of its members.

Deployment of German armed forces to Afghanistan

On 22 December 2001 the German Bundestag approved the deployment of German armed forces in implementation of Security Council Resolution 1386, with a large majority voting in favour of the motion. An the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was thereupon deployed in Kabul province. Germany and the Netherlands jointly led ISAF III from February to August 2003.

With UN Security Council Resolution 1510 of 13 October 2003, the ISAF mandate was renewed for a further twelve months and expanded to cover areas outside Kabul. At the request of the Federal Government, the Bundestag granted parliamentary approval on 24 October for the deployment of up to 450 German soldiers in order to help the Afghan Government implement the Bonn Agreement by increasing the civilian and military commitment in the area around Kunduz in north-east Afghanistan. This will bring the total number of German soldiers deployed in Afghanistan to 2250.

Cultural relations

The revival of cultural relations can build on a well-established network of dedicated Germans and Afghans and breath new life into the traditional cooperation between universities and other cultural institutions. With donations of EUR 8.8 million a year, Germany is making an important contribution to cultural reconstruction. These funds are for projects such as the reopening of three schools, including the Amani High School founded in 1924, the running of summer schools for Afghan university lecturers and the revitalization of German-Afghan cooperation at university level.

The Goethe Institute and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) both have offices in Kabul. The Goethe Institute will in the future offer a full range of language-related services, book translations, library support and teacher training. The most active player in the media is Deutsche Welle, which supplies a daily 10 minute news slot in Dari and Pashto to the Afghan national broadcasting corporation, as well as training and technical assistance.

During the Soviet occupation, the United Nations was highly critical of the U.S.S.R.'s interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and was instrumental in obtaining a negotiated Soviet withdrawal under the terms of the 1988 Geneva Accords.

In the aftermath of the Accords and subsequent Soviet withdrawal, the United Nations assisted in the repatriation of refugees and provided humanitarian aid such as health care, educational programs, and food and has supported mine-clearing operations. From 1990-2001, the UN worked to promote a peaceful settlement between the Afghan factions as well as provide humanitarian aid. Since October 2001, the UN has played a key role in Afghanistan through the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA), including spearheading efforts to organize Afghan elections slated for 2004.

The first extensive American contact with Afghanistan was made by Josiah Harlan, an adventurer from Pennsylvania who was an adviser in Afghan politics in the 1830s and reputedly inspired Rudyard Kipling's story "The Man Who Would be King." 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.-Afghan ties. 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.

In the 1950s, the U.S. 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. The Peace Corps was active in Afghanistan between 1962 and 1979.

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 kidnapers. The U.S. then reduced bilateral assistance and terminated a small military training program. All remaining assistance agreements were ended after the Soviet invasion.

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 Afghans 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 in military and economic assistance to Afghans and the resistance movement.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989 for security reasons, but officially reopened as an embassy on January 17, 2002. Throughout the difficult and turbulent past 20 years, the U.S. has supported the peaceful emergence of a broad-based government representative of all Afghans and has been active in encouraging a UN role in the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The U.S. provides financial aid for mine-clearing activities and other humanitarian assistance to Afghans through international organizations. The U.S. is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The aid effort has continued despite a U.S. cruise missile attack on a terrorist camp in Afghanistan associated with Usama bin Laden in 1998 , with the military action taken against terrorist and Taliban targets in October 2001 and the ongoing actions of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Diplomatic Relations

Established in 1931. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Japan hadn't given diplomatic recognition to any groups. In February, 2002, however, to follow up on the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan and to contribute to the peace and reconstruction process of the country, the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan was reopened.

Trade with Japan (in Japanese Yen) (1999)

Exports: 91 million yen
Imports: 7.6 million yen

Recent Trends in Bilateral Relations

Established in 1931. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Japan hadn't given diplomatic recognition to any groups. In February, 2002, however, to follow up on the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan and to contribute to the peace and reconstruction process of the country, the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan was reopened.