[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
[May 23, 2005]
[Pages 853-856]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Declaration of the United States-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership
May 23, 2005

    Since the fall of the Taliban regime in December 2001, the United 
States and Afghanistan have made great progress in the pursuit of common 
strategic objectives. Together we have disrupted international terrorist 
networks and worked to ensure that Afghanistan will never again be a 
safe haven for terrorists. The United States has

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supported the Afghan people as they have established a moderate, 
representative government. During this time, the U.S. Government and the 
American people have demonstrated a commitment to an Afghanistan that is 
democratic, free, and able to provide for its own security.
    Afghanistan expresses the profound gratitude of the Afghan people to 
the people of the United States of America. Thanks to the generosity of 
the American people and U.S. leadership, this extraordinary effort has 
enabled the Afghan people to regain hope and confidence and to renew 
their vision for achieving prosperity and peace.
    Afghanistan confronts important challenges to its security and its 
efforts to build a government based on democratic principles, respect 
for human rights, and a market economy. To address these challenges, 
Afghanistan proposed that the United States join in a strategic 
partnership and establish close cooperation, including regular, high-
level exchanges on the political, security, and economic issues 
contained herein and other issues of mutual interest. The United States 
and Afghanistan plan to work together to develop appropriate 
arrangements and agreements to implement their strategic partnership.
    This shared effort will be based on a number of key principles, 
including a dedication to the rule of law, protection of the human 
rights and civil liberties of all individuals regardless of ethnic 
affiliations or gender, support for democratic governance, and reliance 
on the free market as the best means to further Afghanistan's economic 
progress. The strategic partnership's primary goal will be to strengthen 
U.S.-Afghan ties to help ensure Afghanistan's long-term security, 
democracy, and prosperity. It should contribute to peaceful and 
productive relations between Afghanistan and its neighbors. It is not 
directed against any third country.
    This partnership will serve as the basis for our common efforts to 
cooperate in the war against international terror and the struggle 
against violent extremism, to promote stability and prosperity in the 
region, and to remain steadfast in supporting Afghanistan's campaign to 
eradicate poppy cultivation, provide alternate livelihoods assistance, 
and fight the production and trafficking of drugs. The partnership will 
be anchored in the constitutions of our two countries, and will be 
guided by the United States and Afghanistan's respective obligations 
under the United Nations Charter and other international agreements and 
conventions.
    Decades of civil war, political violence, and interference in 
Afghanistan's internal affairs make Afghanistan's security, sovereignty, 
independence, and territorial integrity particularly crucial areas for 
U.S.-Afghan cooperation. To enhance Afghanistan's long-term democracy, 
prosperity, and security, we intend to work closely together:

For Democracy and Governance

    Support democratic good governance and the development of 
            civil society based on the rule of law and human rights and 
            encourage broad-based political participation in 
            Afghanistan.
    Help build strong, lasting Afghan Government and civic 
            institutions and support political traditions that are 
            efficient and responsive to the needs of the Afghan people.
    Encourage the advancement of freedom and democracy in the 
            wider region.
    Support Afghanistan's initiative to restore the country's 
            historic role as a land bridge connecting Central and South 
            Asia and to shift the pattern of regional relations from 
            rivalry to economic and political cooperation.
    Foster cooperation between Afghanistan and its neighbors and 
            deter meddling in its internal affairs.

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    Support people-to-people exchanges and partnerships to 
            strengthen ties between American and Afghan society, thereby 
            fostering common outlooks and collaboration on the 
            challenges and opportunities before us.

For Prosperity

    Facilitate and support Afghanistan's integration into 
            regional and world economies and appropriate international 
            organizations.
    Help develop a legal and institutional framework for a 
            thriving private sector and an environment favorable to 
            international investment in Afghanistan.
    Encourage and facilitate involvement of U.S. businesses in 
            ventures that accelerate the development of Afghan firms and 
            the private sector.
    Continue the reconstruction of Afghanistan and investments 
            in the people of Afghanistan and encourage other nations to 
            do so.

For Security

    Help organize, train, equip, and sustain Afghan security 
            forces as Afghanistan develops the capacity to undertake 
            this responsibility.
    Consult with respect to taking appropriate measures in the 
            event that Afghanistan perceives that its territorial 
            integrity, independence, or security is threatened or at 
            risk.
    Assist the Afghan Government in security sector reform.
    Continue to conduct counter-terrorism operations in 
            cooperation with Afghan forces.
    Support Coalition assistance to the Afghan Government's 
            counter-narcotics programs.
    Continue intelligence sharing.
    Strengthen Afghanistan's ties with NATO.
    Support border security initiatives.

    It is understood that in order to achieve the objectives contained 
herein, U.S. military forces operating in Afghanistan will continue to 
have access to Bagram Air Base and its facilities, and facilities at 
other locations as may be mutually determined and that the U.S. and 
Coalition forces are to continue to have the freedom of action required 
to conduct appropriate military operations based on consultations and 
pre-agreed procedures.
    As Afghan Government capabilities increase, Afghanistan will 
continue to cooperate against terrorism, to promote regional security, 
and to combat the drug trade; the Afghan Government, over time, will 
move to assume Afghan security force sustainment costs; and the Afghan 
Government intends to maintain capabilities for the detention, as 
appropriate, of persons apprehended in the War on Terror.
    As Afghanistan develops its political system, the United States 
looks to Afghanistan to respect human rights and develop a just and 
inclusive society. Regular, free, and fair democratic elections, a free 
press, and the active implementation of Afghanistan's constitution are 
hallmarks of the necessary commitment to these principles. The United 
States relies on the Government of Afghanistan to maintain its firm 
commitment against the production, processing, and trafficking of 
narcotics and to assume responsibility for countering narcotics as 
police, prosecutorial, and prison capacity is developed and enhanced. 
Finally, the United States relies on Afghanistan's commitment to create 
a legal framework and an environment favorable to private sector and 
domestic and international investment that offers economic opportunities 
to all Afghan people.
    The Afghan people have made tremendous sacrifices and shown great 
courage in the pursuit of freedom. The United States shares their vision 
of a country that is democratic, at peace, and working to improve the 
lives of all Afghans and that plays an important and positive role in 
the affairs

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of the region and the world. We are confident that the U.S.-Afghan 
strategic partnership will play a central role in helping Afghanistan 
achieve these goals.


George W. Bush                          Hamid Karzai
President of the                         President of the
United States                            Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
 

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.