If Afghan leadership and diplomats from 60 countries meet today at the United Nations in Geneva today and tomorrow, the main invitation will be for the international community to show their solidarity with the Afghan people and government in Kabul Peace and prosperity.
But Afghanistan is far from peace and prosperity after 17 years of war. The country does not come to rest. It is poor. The government is weakened. The radical Islamic Taliban have been strengthened.
Thomas Ruttig, the co-director of the non-governmental organization Afghanistan Analysts Network, sees this situation as endangering the country’s path to democracy:
„We have just passed parliamentary elections and we still have no results. The should come about a month after Election Day on October 20, but are only there in a rudimentary manner until now. That makes it clear how difficult it all is. “
The security situation is tense in many parts of the country. Attacks and attacks of Islamist rebels are on the agenda. Added to this is a disastrous economic situation that has worsened as a result of a severe drought, says Thomas Rüttig:
„The poverty rate had improved, but unfortunately fell back to the level of 2002, ie immediately after the Taliban years. 55 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. “
Only low expectations for the conference
In Geneva, the Afghan government wants to provide information about these challenges as well as about progress in terms of security and development in the country. The meeting could be seen as a kind of mid-term review after the Afghanistan donors conference in Brussels two years ago. At that time, international supporters had tied their financial aid to conditions that needed to be implemented by 2020 – such as reforms, peace efforts with all parties to the conflict, including the Taliban, and respect for human rights.
The Afghan leadership is now expected to reaffirm its commitment to implementing these demands in Geneva, writes Berlin expert on Afghanistan Nicole Birtsch:
„Well, it does do something that once the Afghan government, the President is coming, among other things, first of all, must present oneself naturally and also have to show what they have done in reforms, for example, and what their vision is for the country have to take responsibility, because there are so many donor countries – on the one hand. On the other hand, if there are now 30 foreign ministers from other countries, then they can also put pressure on the Afghan government … to see it there: implement your reforms and enter into negotiations with the Taliban. “
In addition to political issues, Geneva will also be about money. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wants to promote investment. One should not expect too much from the two-day conference, but perhaps it will actually be possible to solve a bit of the incrustations that have come from 17 years of war. This, in turn, could pave the way for peace and prosperity, and finally for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
