Afghanistan & Pakistan

• Fact Sheet: New Silk Road Ministerial
• The United States' "New Silk Road" Strategy
• Fact Sheet (Jan 2003): Rebuilding Afghanistan 
• State.gov: Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

Afghanistan & Pakistan News

12 February 2013 White House Fact Sheet on Afghanistan  In his State of the Union address, the President announced that the United States will withdraw 34,000 American troops from Afghanistan by this time next year, decreasing the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by half – the next step to responsibly bringing this war to a close.

12 February 2013 Afghanistan Investment Fund to Focus on Social Development  The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to establish the first investment fund in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, for social development projects.

23 January 2013 Better Than Cash Alliance Can Boost Afghanistan's Economy  Afghanistan’s decision to join the Better Than Cash Alliance will help address poverty and promote economic growth, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) says.

12 January 2013 President Obama on Ending the War in Afghanistan  Following his meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karza on January 11, President Obama used his weekly address to update the American people on how the United States will end the war in Afghanistan, and how the goal of ensuring that al-Qaida never again uses Afghanistan to launch attacks against America is within reach.

11 January 2013 Obama, Afghanistan's Karzai Reach Key Agreements  Afghan national forces will assume the lead for security across all of Afghanistan during the spring while troops from the United States and other NATO allies shift their mission to training, advising and assisting Afghan forces.
 • Joint Statement by Presidents Obama, Karzai

10 January 2013 Secretary of Defense Panetta and Afghan President Karzai at Pentagon 

08 January 201 Defense Briefing on Afghan President Karzai's Visit  "Secretary Panetta will also participate in meetings with President Karzai on Friday at the White House. This visit, of course, provides an opportunity to discuss the ongoing transition to Afghan security lead and our enduring commitment to Afghanistan following completion of transition at the end of 2014."

08 January 2013 Presidents Obama, Karzai to Discuss Afghanistan's Transition  Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in Washington this week for talks with President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as Afghanistan prepares for far-reaching security and political transitions.

07 January 2013 White House on Afghan President Karzai's Visit   President Obama will host President Hamid Karzai and his delegation at the White House for bilateral meetings on Friday, January 11.

02 January 2013 Panetta Praises Security Transition Progress in Afghanistan   Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lauded Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s announcement that Afghanistan has entered the second-to-last stage of the transition of security responsibility from NATO’s International Security Assistance Force to Afghan security forces.

2012

18 December 2012 Soldiers Supporting Afghan Girls' Education  As part of the ongoing effort to help Afghanistan’s female citizens, U.S. soldiers outside Kabul regularly host bazaars for businesswomen. Efforts are now expanding to include the building and renovation of schools where girls can receive a quality education.

12 December 2012 Afghan Civil Society Must Unite to Promote Human Rights  Civil society groups must work together if they are to successfully promote human rights and provide a viable alternative to religious extremists in Afghanistan, say three Afghan women’s rights activists who made their case recently before the U.S. Congress and officials at the U.S. Department of State.

12 December 2012 Recent Incidents of Violence Against Women in Afghanistan (State.gov)  The United States joins the government of Afghanistan in strongly condemning the murder of Najia Sediqi, who was killed in a drive-by shooting Monday morning. As Acting Director of Provincial Women's Affairs, Najia was one of the many Afghan women who dedicate themselves every single day toward building a brighter future for the people of Afghanistan.

11 December 2012 Afghanistan Advances Toward Full Security Responsibility in 2014  U.S. and coalition forces and their Afghan partners blunted an insurgent offensive during the 2012 summer fighting season and advanced toward the goal of putting the Afghan National Security Forces in full control of security by the end of 2014, a Defense Department report says.

05 October 2012 U.S. and Pakistan Convene Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism Working Group  The working group discussed means to disrupt the illicit networks that supply the components and financing for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

03 October 2012 Clinton, Afghan FM Launch U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Commission  The United States and Afghanistan have successfully worked together for more than a decade to improve security, strengthen democracy, support civil society and enhance economic opportunity for the Afghan people, and the United States will continue support for Afghanistan as the country works toward lasting peace and stability, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says.

21 September 2012 Clinton and Pakistan's Khar Affirm Common Goals  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar have reiterated the U.S.-Pakistan commitment to stronger relations between the two nations, with Clinton thanking the Pakistani government for its efforts to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities in Pakistan.

12 September 2012 Obama's Call with Afghan President Karzai  President Obama called President Karzai earlier today as part of their regular consultations as transition continues in Afghanistan.

06 September 2012 Afghan Forces Lead Security for 75 Percent of the Population  Afghan national forces are taking the lead in providing security in districts that cover 75 percent of the population in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General James Terry says.

28 August 2012 General Allen on Building Peace in Afghanistan 

23 August 2012 Commander General John  Allen: Closer Ties With Partners May Reduce Insider Attack Threat The closer their relationship is with their Afghan security force partners, the safer coalition forces are from “insider attacks,” the commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said today.

14 August 2012 Panetta, General Dempsey on Afghanistan, Middle East

08 July 2012 State Department Fact Sheet: Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan  

07 July 2012 State Dept Fact sheet : Major Non-NATO Ally Status for Afghanistan  On May 2, 2012, President Obama and President Karzai signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.  As part of this agreement, the United States pledged to designate Afghanistan a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA).  Following the entry into force of the Strategic Partnership Agreement on July 4, President Obama signed the MNNA designation for Afghanistan on July 6.  Afghanistan is the first country to be designated an MNNA since 2004.

28 June 2012 U.S. Will Support Afghanistan After 2014 Exit of Foreign Troops  The United States will remain a staunch supporter of Afghanistan after 2014, when most foreign troops are scheduled to leave and the government in Kabul assumes full responsibility for security, according to U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice.

21 May 2102 NATO Allies: Afghan Forces Will Take Security Control in 2013  President Obama and leaders of the United States’ NATO allies have formally agreed to transfer security responsibility across Afghanistan to Afghan forces in 2013, a significant step toward transition as U.S. and international forces prepare to end their combat mission in the country in 2014.
 • White House Fact Sheet on NATO and Afghanistan After 2014
 • NATO Summit Declaration on Afghanistan

13 May 2012 Statement by President Obama on the Afghan Transition (Whitehouse.gov)

10 May 2012 NATO Summit to Reaffirm Afghan Transition Plan  The May 20–21 NATO Summit in Chicago will focus on the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan, including its shift from a combat role to a supporting role for Afghan security forces, as well as defense capabilities and partnerships among member nations to meet the security challenges of the 21st century.

01 May 2012 U.S. Report Cites Progress in Afghan Security Forces  Progress is being made in transitioning control of security in Afghanistan to Afghan national security forces, as progress has also been made with a strategic partnership agreement between U.S. and Afghan leaders, report senior U.S. officials.

01 May 2012 Key Facts on U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement  In May 2010, in Washington, DC, President Obama and President Karzai committed the two countries to negotiate and conclude a strategic partnership that would provide a framework for our future relationship.  On May 1, 2012, President Obama and President Karzai signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America.
 • Background Briefing on U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement

18 April 2012 Afghan Security Transition Timetable "On Track," Clinton Says  The transition of security control of Afghanistan from international forces to the Afghan government is “on track” for 2014, Secretary of State Clinton said, adding that countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had met and reaffirmed their support for the transition and their “enduring commitment to Afghanistan.”

12 April 2012 Afghan Moot Court Competitors Visit U.S. Supreme Court   Five law students from Balkh University in Afghanistan climbed the marble steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on the morning of March 29. They were arriving at the grand, neo-classical building for a special visit that followed their impressive showing in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. They are among the young leaders of Afghanistan, two-thirds of whose population is under 25, whose thinking and actions will play a critical role in the future of their country.

21 March 2012 Clinton Says U.S. Committed to Afghan Women's Rights  In its support for Afghan reconciliation efforts, the United States will not allow the freedoms Afghan women have gained since the Taliban era to be rescinded, and it will continue to support their advancement and full inclusion in their country and society, said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. 

14 March 2012 U.S., British Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Afghan Transition  President Obama and visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron reaffirmed their commitment to an internationally agreed-upon transition plan in Afghanistan that will see Afghan forces take over from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force by the end of 2014.

14 February 2012 U.S. Businesses Look to Help Rebuild Afghanistan  Key sectors of Afghanistan’s economy could soon receive a boost from U.S. businesses whose representatives are now visiting Kabul, Afghanistan.  Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez and representatives from 12 U.S. businesses from the construction, mining, agribusiness and information technology sectors are in Kabul to explore how they can play a role in rebuilding the country, according to the International Trade Administration.

08 February 2012 Summary of Obama’s Meeting on Afghanistan, Pakistan  President Obama met today with his national security team as a part of his regular meetings on Afghanistan and Pakistan. The President received an update on our engagement with the Pakistani Government on a range of issues of mutual interest, including efforts to strengthen cooperation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

02 February 2012 Panetta Describes U.S. Military Transition in Afghanistan  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the United States is aiming to draw down combat forces from Afghanistan starting this year and end its combat role by late 2013, with a measured transition throughout 2014 to one of training and advising local security forces.

23 January 2012 Grossman Says Taliban Must Renounce Violence in Afghanistan  U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman told reporters that before peace talks can begin toward reconciliation between Afghanistan and the former Taliban regime, the Taliban must first renounce terrorism and end armed conflict.

20 January 2012 Afghan, ISAF Officials Detail Corruption Fight  The battle against corruption in Afghanistan is as crucial to the nation’s future as the fight against the insurgency, two leaders at the forefront of that struggle said.

2011

22 December 2011 Department of Defense Statement Regarding Investigation Results into Pakistan Cross-Border Incident

05 December 2011 U.S., Global Partners Pledge Continued Afghanistan Support Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has pledged continued U.S. support for Afghanistan, joining nearly 100 nations in doing so at an international conference in Bonn, Germany, as Afghanistan works toward increasing self-sustainability.
 • Secretary Clinton Press Availability on Afghan Conference in Bonn

05 December 2011 Secretary Clinton at Breakfast with Afghan Civil Society Representatives

04 December 2011 Obama and Clinton calls to Pakistani President Zardari President Obama and Secretary Clinton express condolences on the tragic loss of Pakistani soldiers this past week along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

14 November 2011 Remarks at the Jamestown Foundation on the New Silk Road   Assistant Secretary Blake, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Remarks at the Jamestown Foundation on the New Silk Road. 
 • Next Steps on the Silk Road

02 November 2011 U.S., International Partners Meet to Support Afghanistan   Deputy Secretary of State William Burns says a meeting in Istanbul of Afghan officials, that country’s neighbors, near-neighbors and international partners was the “first clear, regionwide statement of support” for Afghanistan’s future stability and prosperity.
  • Deputy Secretary Burns at Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan 

31 October 2011 Ambassador Rice on Attack on U.N. Office in Afghanistan    Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Attack on the UN Office in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province.

27 October 2011 Clinton Says Pakistan Also Will Benefit by Pressuring Insurgents  As some U.S. lawmakers expressed concern over the relationship between the United States and Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership to shut down terrorist safe havens, put more pressure on violent extremists to stop their incursions into Afghanistan and aid peace efforts in Afghanistan in the interest of regional stability.

27 October 2011  Secretary Clinton's Opening Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Opening Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee .

22 October 2011 Clinton: U.S. Committed to Helping Pakistan Boost Development  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said during a two-day visit in Islamabad that the United States is committed to helping Pakistan meet the economic and social development needs of the Pakistani people and to achieving mutual security goals.

20 October 2011 Clinton Backs Afghan Peace Efforts as “Best Hope” for Region  The United States remains committed to Afghanistan’s peace efforts with Taliban fighters and sees the process as “the best hope” for the country and its neighbors, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  She expressed strong U.S. support for “an inclusive Afghan peace process that ends the conflict, protects the gains the Afghan people have achieved in the last 10 years, and helps bring greater stability and prosperity to the wider region.”

19 October 2011 Background Briefing: Senior State Department Officials on Afghanistan    Briefing by Senior State Department officials on Secretary of State Clinton's  unannounced visit to Kabul, Afghanistan.

13 October 2011 U.S. Efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan Are Succeeding, Panetta Says  Ten years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, U.S. efforts to weaken al-Qaida are succeeding, says U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. According to Panetta, the United States is at a turning point — not only in its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but for its own military as well.

03 October 2011 Establishing Afghanistan as Trade Hub to Improve Regional Economy  Establishing Afghanistan as a regional crossroads in a new network of economic and trade connections will allow the country to take ownership of its economic future, providing a more stable financial outlook for Afghans, their neighbors and international partners.

29 September 2011 Remarks by Ambassador Rice at U.N. Debate on Afghanistan Amb. Rice focused her remarks on security, upcoming events that frame the 2014 transition, and the New Silk Road initiative.

29 September 2011 The United States' "New Silk Road" Strategy: What is it? Where is it Headed? Remarks by Robert D. Hormats, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs.

26 September 2011 Afghan Troops, Police Make ‘Significant’ Progress   Afghan security forces are moving forward and will be able to assume the lead for security in December 2014, said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Caldwell IV, commander of NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.

23 September 2011 Clinton Says Building New Silk Road Is Critical for Afghanistan  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says building a web of economic and transit connections across South and Central Asia with a central hub in Afghanistan would help the transitioning country to build a sustainable economy, in turn ensuring a more prosperous future for the region as a whole.
  • Fact Sheet on New Silk Road Ministerial

14 September 2011 Clinton Pledges Vigilance After Attack on U.S. Embassy in Kabul  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged continued U.S. vigilance in Afghanistan following a series of attacks in and around the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and she said American civilians who are serving in the Afghan capital will continue their work to improve the lives of Afghan men, women and children.

08 September 2011 Confidence Key to Taliban Reintegration, Commander Says  The Afghan-led reintegration program for former Taliban fighters has enrolled nearly 10 percent of the group’s estimated force in the year since the program began, and a commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says more are expected to participate as trust and confidence build between them and Afghan officials, as well as their desire to peacefully return to their homes after years of fighting.

25 August 2011 General Sees Improved Afghan Governance and Security  Afghan security forces and government institutions are continuing to strengthen their capacity and earn more confidence from the Afghan people, says a U.S. coalition forces commander in Afghanistan, adding that his team is continuing its efforts to put pressure on insurgents and help Afghan authorities create conditions to foster stability and economic development.

24 August 2011 Special Representative Grossman’s Op-Ed on Success in Afghanistan  "Afghanistan's GDP has tripled since 2001. ... Today, more than 8 million children attend school - a third of them girls. Eighty percent of Afghans have access to basic health-care facilities, almost twice as many as in 2005."

18 July 2011 Allen Takes Reins as ISAF Commander  Marine Corps General John R. Allen assumed command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan here today.

13 July 2011 U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council Meeting The U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council met today at the White House, hosted by Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Marc Grossman, and the White House Council on Women and Girls.

12 July 2011 Secretary Clinton on Assassination of Ahmed Wali Karzai 

29 June 2011 U.S. Goals in Afghanistan Are Meeting with Success, Obama Says  President Obama says the U.S. mission in Afghanistan will be successful if U.S. forces leave behind a country where the Afghan government and people can provide for their own security, and al-Qaida is unable to attack the United States, its allies or its overseas interests.

23 June  2011 The Way Forward in Afghanistan   Testimony by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

23 June  2011 Obama Says 10,000 U.S. Troops Leaving Afghanistan in 2011  The United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2011, and can achieve its goal of denying al-Qaida and its affiliates a safe haven from which to launch attacks against the United States or its allies, President Obama announced.

22 June 2011 Remarks by the President on the Way Forward in Afghanistan  President Obama addressed the nation about the way forward in Afghanistan and his plan to remove 10,000 American troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year, and a total of 33,000 by next summer.

10 June 2011 Gates Says NATO Security Gains in Afghanistan Can Be Sustained  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the gains made in Afghanistan by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force  over the past two years can take root and be sustained over time with proper allied support.   “Far too much has been accomplished, at far too great a cost, to let the momentum slip away just as the enemy is on its back foot,” Gates said in a speech to the Security and Defense Agenda conference in Brussels. His remarks came at the end of nearly three days of meetings by the NATO defense ministers.

04 June 2011 Press Briefing by Defense’s Gates, Afghan President Karzai   Joint Press Conference with Secretary Gates and President Karzai from Kabul, Afghanistan

27 May 2011 Clinton Says U.S. Will Continue Support for Pakistan  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a brief visit to Islamabad May 27 that the United States will continue to support Pakistan, its elected leaders and its people.  “The United States knows that Pakistan’s future is imperatively important for us, but even more so for the people themselves,” Clinton said.

03 May 2011 Pentagon Report Cites Tangible Progress in Afghan Security  Afghan national security forces have made “tangible progress” in halting and reversing the momentum of the Taliban insurgency in a number of areas, a new U.S. Defense Department report says.

06 April 2011 At Hearing, U.S. Cites Positive Outlook in Ties to South Asia U.S. officials are offering an encouraging picture of South Asia as a region of democratic governments, strong growth and generally improving ties to the United States.

22 March 2011  Statement by Secretary Clinton on President Karzai's Transition Announcement

16 March 2011 U.S., Allied and Afghan Forces on Track for Transition  Due to significant security gains in 2010 and early 2011, U.S. and allied forces are on track to begin a security transition in some of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces in the coming weeks, putting “Afghan forces in the lead throughout the country by 2014,” says General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

21 February  2011 Background Briefing on Diplomatic Immunity with a Senior Administration Official

18 February 2011 Secretary Clinton at the Asia Society   Secretary Clinton: "Our friend Richard Holbrooke believed a better future is possible for Afghanistan, for Pakistan, and the wider region. ...The United States will be there as a partner to help them achieve that, if that is the path they choose."

17 February 2011 Proposed Changes to Regulation of Women's Shelters In Afghanistan Philip  Crowley, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs.

Farmer to Farmer: Arghandab Pomegranates

16 November 2011

Farmer to Farmer: Arghandab Pomegranates (A State Dept/USDA feature)

Excessive rains caused much of southern Afghanistan's pomegranate crop to split, making the fruit difficult to export and causing many farmers to use their harvest only as animal feed.

USDA Agricultural Advisor Gary Soiseth has been working with farmers of Arghandab District, Kandahar Province, to teach them that split pomegranates have value beyond animal feed, and can be sold to a juicing factory in Kabul as a means of recouping profit otherwise thought lost.

Soiseth's work exemplifies USDA's activities throughout Afghanistan: connecting farmers to the market and increasing agricultural output, helping to ensure that agriculture remains a consistent, sustainable livelihood for Afghanistan's farmers.

U.S. Embassy Kabul and USDA produced this video    of Soiseth's work in Arghandab District.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is installing some 170 solar-powered streetlights in the Afghan capital.

16 December 2010 Statement by the President on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Annual Review

23 November 2010 U.S. Reaches Pakistan Flood Relief Milestone   U.S. flood relief efforts in Pakistan reached a new milestone on November 21, with more than 25 million pounds of relief supplies delivered in Pakistan since U.S. military relief flight operations began August 5, U.S. Embassy Islamabad said in a press release.

20 November 2010 Obama, NATO Sign Afghan Power Transfer Plan  President Obama has joined NATO allies in a formal agreement to transfer security control of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to Afghan forces starting in 2011.  Speaking to reporters November 20 in Lisbon, Portugal, at the end of the 2010 NATO Summit, Obama said the transition of security forces would begin in July, with a target of completion by the end of 2014. He said the plan, proposed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, was endorsed by NATO partners.

16 November 2010 United States, NATO to Announce Afghan Power Transfer Plan   The United States and its NATO partners are preparing to announce plans to transfer security control of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces to the Afghans by the end of 2014, according to senior U.S. officials.  President Obama’s special assistant for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Doug Lute, said during a White House briefing November 16 that the military transfer will begin early in 2011 with plans for completion by the end of 2014. Lute said the transition was possible “based on conditions on the ground and as a result of the surge in international resources.”

12 October  2010 Briefing on US Flood Relief Assistance to Pakistan

07 October 2010 Updated U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

29 September 2010 Ambassador Rice’s Remarks at Security Council Debate on Afghanistan

28 September 2010 U.S. Statement on Stoning of Woman in Pakistan  "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal stoning of a woman in Orakzai, Pakistan, allegedly by members of the Pakistani Taliban, which is depicted in a video circulating on the internet."

22 September 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan Flooding Disaster The United States Government is providing approximately $345 million to assist with relief and recovery efforts.

20 September 2010 Remarks on Pakistan Flood Relief Efforts  By Richard Holbrooke,  Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator.
 • Latest summary of U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flood Disaster

15 September 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster The U.S. Government is now providing approximately $268 million to assist with relief and recovery efforts.

13 September 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

04 September 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

01 September 2010 Updated U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster (from the State Department)

30 August 2010 Briefing on Flood Relief Efforts in Pakistan  By Dan Feldman, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Carol Chan, Deputy Director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

25 August 2010 United States Diverting Funds for More Pakistan Relief
The United States is providing an additional $50 million to help Pakistan cope with the worst monsoon flooding seen there in more than 80 years, says Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

23 August 2010 U.S. Expands Support for Pakistan Flood Relief The United States is continuing to expand assistance and development programs in flood-stricken Pakistan, providing temporary bridges and mobilizing significant civilian and military resources to rescue victims of the flooding and deliver much-needed supplies, U.S. officials say.

23 August 2010 Updated Fact Sheet: US Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster To date, the United States is providing approximately $150 million to support relief efforts in Pakistan.

23 August 2010 Gen. Petraeus Says Progress Made, But Challenges to Continue The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan cited encouraging signs of progress in Afghanistan.

20 August 2010 Pakistan Relief Fund Americans are urged to donate to the newly established Pakistan Relief Fund.

19 August 2010  Pakistani Flood Response Event Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke; the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah; and the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Judith McHale brief at the Asia Society.

19 August 2010 U.S. Increases Pakistan Aid to $150 Million, Urges More Help Clinton says flood damage “almost hard to fathom.”

19 August 2010 Secretary Clinton's U.N. Remarks on Pakistan Flooding  Sec. Clinton states U.S. resolve to help Pakistan meet immediate crisis then recover.

19 August 2010 Updated Fact Sheet: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

18 August 2010 Updated Fact Sheet: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

18 August 2010 U.S., International Aid Helps Fight Disease in Pakistan Floods Waterborne and other infectious diseases threaten more than 15 million people in Pakistan, where the July-September monsoon season has already produced floodwaters that have killed at least 1,500 people, left an estimated 20 million homeless and now cover a fifth of the country.

17 August 2010 Updated Fact Sheet: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster To date the U.S. has provided approximately $90 million to support relief efforts.

16 August 2010 Commander of Allied Forces Cites Progress in Afghanistan Progress in Afghanistan is being made, but it will take much more progress to achieve success, and that is a long-term proposition, U.S. Army General David Petraeus says in describing his mission as the new commander of allied forces in that nation."

16 August 2010 Pakistani Flood Victims Need More Money and Relief Supplies U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson said Pakistani flood victims need “mostly money and relief supplies” from the international community, and both U.S. and U.N. officials warned about the possible spread of waterborne diseases in the country as the Indus River Valley continues to overflow due to torrential monsoons.

16 August 2010 Updated Fact Sheet: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

14 August 2010  More U.S. Helicopters Arrive in Pakistan To Support Flood Relief Two U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters arrived in Pakistan today as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from the monsoon floods.

12 August 2010 Recent Developments: U.S. Response to Pakistan Floods Updated fact sheet on assistance from U.S. government, public and private sector.

12 August 2010 U.S. Delivering Pakistan Flood Aid Through Nongovernmental Groups The Obama administration, responding to severe flooding in Pakistan, is sending funding and supplies directly to international and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) already in place in the country, and will be looking to expand its assistance to Pakistani NGOs and other organizations as the flooding spreads to southern parts of the country.

11 August 2010 U.N. Flash Appeal for Pakistan Brings More U.S. Aid In response to a $459.7 million flash appeal for Pakistan launched by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Obama administration announced it is providing an additional $16.25 million to help the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross assist flood victims.

11 August 2010 Latest Developments: U.S. Response to Pakistan Floods Update on assistance from U.S. government, private sector.

10 August 2010 U.S. Gives Additional $20 Million to Aid Pakistani Flood Victims  As the humanitarian catastrophe caused by flooding in Pakistan continues to spread, the Obama administration announced it is contributing an additional $20 million with a special focus on the south of the country as flood waters expand into that region.

10 August 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster (from the State Department)

09 August 2010 Press Availability On Relief Workers Killed in Afghanistan   By Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

09 August 2010 Statement by the National Security Advisor General James Jones on the U.S. Response to Flooding in Pakistan (White House)

09 August 2010 Fact Sheet on U.S. Response to Pakistan Floods  Update on assistance from the government and the private sector.

08 August 2010 Clinton on Killing of Medical Aid Workers in Afghanistan  The United States condemns this senseless act in the strongest terms.

08 August 2010 Statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Killing of Medical Aid Workers in Afghanistan

06 August 2010 Pakistan Flooding Affecting Entire Nation  What makes the current emergency in Pakistan unique is that the worst monsoon flooding in 80 years is affecting the entire country, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson says.

05 August 2010 Update: U.S. Response to Pakistan's Flooding Disaster

04 August 2010 Latest Developments: U.S. Response to Flooding in Pakistan  Outlines U.S. humanitarian aid, relief efforts to affected people in region.

04 August 2010 Secretary Clinton's Statement on the Flooding in Pakistan

02 August 2010 United States Rushing Aid to Pakistan Flood Victims   The United States has begun a massive humanitarian response in the aftermath of devastating flooding that has struck northwestern Pakistan, including a pledge of $10 million in aid, according to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

01 August 2010 Secretary Clinton on Flooding in Pakistan   Announces an initial commitment of $10 million in U.S. aid to region.

25 July 2010 U.S. National Security Advisor on Wikileaks Report on Afghanistan  The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people.

23 July 2010 State Department on Haqqani Network Designation in Pakistan  Response to question on designation of individuals associated with al-Qaida.

22 July 2010 U.S. Relieves 100 Percent of Afghanistan’s $108 Million Debt   The United States and Afghanistan signed an agreement to relieve 100 percent of Afghanistan’s debt to the United States, which is part of a broader poverty-reduction program to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Afghan people, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry said July 22 at a ceremony in Kabul.

22 July 2010 Clinton Praises "Comprehensive" Afghan Plan to Fight Corruption    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton praised the Afghan government’s proposals to the 40 international delegations at a conference in Kabul on how it will improve governance and reduce corruption, and said the plan has the support of the United States. Speaking to reporters at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul July 20, Clinton said the conference, the largest international gathering ever held in Kabul, had been "a real milestone" and "a turning point" for the country, with a show of support for Afghanistan from a broad coalition of nations and “very well thought-out plans” that were presented by President Hamid Karzai.

21 July 2010 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with BBC News in Pakistan   Discusses U.S. relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan, terrorism.
 • Interview With Maria Usman of CBS Islamabad
 • Interview With Greta Van Susteren of Fox News Islamabad
 • Interview with NBC Andrea Mitchell Islamabad

21 July 2010 Clinton Says Pakistan Showing Greater Commitment Against Terror  The Pakistani government has become "very serious" about fighting the violent extremist organizations within its borders, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, and while there is more work to be done she envisions greater cooperation between the United States and Pakistan against terrorist groups as more trust is built between the two governments.

20 July 2010 Obama, Cameron Reaffirm Commitment to Afghanistan    A key component for peace in Afghanistan is to build the country’s capacity so that its security forces "can take responsibility for their future," President Obama said after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House.  At a joint press conference Obama and Cameron said they both agree that the right strategy is twofold: break the former Taliban regime’s insurgency and build Afghan capacity.

20 July 2010 Remarks by Secretary Clinton on Intervention at Kabul Conference  U.S. to continue economic development assistance, training security forces.

19 July 2010  Signing of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement

19 July 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Following the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue

19 July 2010  U.S.-Pakistan Dialogue Focused on Pakistanis'  Priorities  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the ongoing strategic dialogue between the United States and Pakistan has sought to focus on areas of mutual interest beyond security, and is addressing priorities expressed by Pakistanis such as water, energy, health and jobs.

19 July 2010 U.S. Announces U.S.-Pakistan Gender Equity Program  Program to expand women’s rights and combat gender-based violence.

19 July 2010 Clinton Announces Massive Aid for Pakistan's People    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a series of U.S. commitments to projects in Pakistan aimed at improving agricultural development, electric power generation, dams, new hospital construction, and programs to help empower women. Clinton told reporters following the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue that the projects reaffirm the United States' long-term commitment to improve security, protect the Pakistani people, help drive economic development, and strengthen Pakistani democratic institutions. The assistance also is designed to help end a legacy of mistrust, she added.
  • U.S. Announces New Communications, Historic Preservation Partnerships with Pakistan

14 July 2010 Secretary Clinton’s Upcoming Trip to Asia and Afghanistan  Clinton to lead U.S. delegation to ASEAN Regional Forum in Vietnam.

13 July 2010 Special Envoy Holbrooke on Upcoming Kabul Conference   Holbrooke answers questions on Afghanistan, India, reintegration and women.

13 July 2010 Reintegration of Former Taliban a Key to Success in Afghanistan  Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke says the launch of the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program designed to persuade Taliban fighters to give up their arms and return to their communities reflects the Obama administration’s view that there is no purely military solution to the continuing conflict in Afghanistan.

30 June 2010 Ambassador Rice at U.N. Security Council Debate on Afghanistan  The United States expresses its gratitude to U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

29 June 2010 General Petraeus Testifies on Afghanistan Strategy   The U.S. Army general nominated to command U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan testified before a U.S. Senate committee June 29 that his major goals are to provide security and development assistance while the Afghan government strengthens and takes greater responsibility for its own security.

01 June 2010 Writing Project Helping Afghan Women Find Their Voices   Among the many voices speaking for and about Afghanistan — whether government officials, soldiers, tribal leaders or the Taliban — one voice has been largely absent: that of the country’s women. The Afghan Women’s Writing Project seeks to change that through an online partnership of American writers, teachers and journalists who serve as editorial mentors to women throughout Afghanistan who are trying to articulate their experiences in poetry, essays, and stories.

19 May 2010 Pakistan, U.S. Statement on Visit of Senior Officials to Pakistan  Security adviser and CIA director continue strategic dialogue with Pakistan.

13 May 2010 Sec. Clinton's Remarks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a Moderated Conversation at the U.S. Institute of Peace

13 May 2010 Secretary Clinton and Afghan Women Ministers Before Their Meeting  The U.S. continues to target assistance to women, including better health care.

12 May 2010 Obama Offers Support for Afghan Peace Jirga  President Obama expressed support for the Afghan government’s planned consultative peace jirga aimed at discussing how to reconcile Taliban fighters with the rest of the country, describing the national council as “an important milestone that America supports.”

12 May 2010 Joint Statement from the President and President Karzai of Afghanistan  U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, accompanied by senior-level delegations, convened wide-ranging discussions aimed at deepening cooperation on the shared and mutual priorities of the United States and Afghanistan.  These discussions on governance, security, economic and social development, and regional issues built on past sessions of the United States – Afghanistan Strategic Dialogue.

11 May 2010 Clinton Pledges Long-Term U.S. Commitment to Afghanistan  The Obama administration recognizes that the futures of the United States and Afghanistan are shared and pledges a long-term commitment to the Afghan people that will endure long after U.S. forces have left the country, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the opening of high-level bilateral discussions in Washington.

11 May 2010 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton At U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Discussions

11 May 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai Before Their Meeting

10 May 2010 Karzai Visit to Washington Comes at Important Time, U.S. Says  Afghan President Hamid Karzai leads a delegation of senior Afghan officials to the United States for what Obama administration officials describe as an opportunity to evaluate the broad strategic partnership between the two countries as they focus on shared security, governance and development goals.

09 May 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview with Scott Pelley of CBS 60 Minutes

07 May 2010 Karzai Visit to Washington Comes at Important Time, U.S. Says  Afghan President Hamid Karzai leads a delegation of senior Afghan officials to the United States May 10–13 for what Obama administration officials describe as an opportunity to evaluate the broad strategic partnership between the two countries as they focus on shared security, governance and development goals.

06 May 2010 Report on U.S. Counternarcotics Strategy for Afghanistan

28 April 2010 U.S. Inaugurates $25 Million Peshawar Ring Road  The project, overseen by the State Department’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs in close cooperation with the Government of Pakistan, will provide $25 million in upgrades to the important provincial thoroughfare for the purpose of strengthening security and bolstering economic development.

16 April 2010 U.S., Afghanistan Partner to Improve Local Governance, Services  U.S. and Afghan leaders have signed an agreement that establishes a district delivery program to improve local governance and to improve targeting of assistance efforts, says Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Shah and Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew had just returned from extended consultations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

07 April 2010 First Afghan Women Diplomats Train in Washington   In a groundbreaking effort by their country, 10 Afghan women diplomats completed a special U.S.-sponsored training program designed to expand and diversify Afghanistan’s diplomatic corps and to foster a broader exchange between Afghan and American diplomats. All of the young women diplomats were from Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Although some have considerable travel experience, it was the first visit to the United States for each.

29 March 2010 Obama Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan to Honor Troops  President Obama made his first trip to Afghanistan as commander in chief March 28, using his surprise visit to honor U.S., Afghan and international troops and to meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss anti-corruption efforts, energy and agricultural production and other civilian issues.

17 March 2010 McChrystal Reports on Progress in Afghanistan  The commander of NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan said today he is pleased with the progress in the country so far while acknowledging that much more needs to be done. Army General Stanley McChrystal said military operations in Helmand province have been promising, and that efforts to build the Afghan government in the province are the key to long-term success. McChrystal and Ambassador Mark Sedwill, the senior NATO civilian representative in Afghanistan, spoke to Pentagon reporters from Kabul.

15 March 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview with CNN’s Jill Dougherty  Discusses women's rights, Middle East peace process, Afghanistan and Iran.

12 March 2010 Pakistan, Afghanistan Struggle to Protect Human Rights, U.S. Says  In two of the most complex political and security environments in the world, characterized by brutal insurgencies, Pakistan and Afghanistan achieved only modest advances in protecting citizens from violence and human rights abuses in 2009, according to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, issued March 11 by the U.S. Department of State.

09 March 2010 Defense Secretary Gates Cites Progress in Afghanistan  Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Kabul that long-term success in Afghanistan ultimately will be determined by how well the Afghan government, with international support, can respond to the Afghan people and “inspire their loyalty.” Gates, in Afghanistan to check on progress since operations were expanded late last year, met in the Afghan capital with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and Army General Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. forces and the International Security Assistance Force.

25 February 2010 Pentagon Welcomes Restored Afghan Control of Marjah  The Obama administration welcomed the transfer of authority in the central Helmand province town of Marjah to the Afghan government as well as the return of Afghans to their homes, increased freedom of movement, and the reopening of bazaars.

24 February 2010 Women’s Advancement Seen as Key to More Prosperous Afghan Future  Investment in women is the single most effective development strategy globally, and Afghanistan is no exception, says a State Department official, who outlined for a Senate panel the ways the Obama administration is working to promote women’s rights as a powerful but underused force to improve Afghanistan.

22 February 2010 Gates, Mullen Regret Civilian Casualties  Expressing deep regret over civilian casualties resulting from a NATO air strike yesterday, Pentagon civilian and military leaders said today they support the strategy that puts as much emphasis on protecting the Afghan population as capturing or killing insurgents.

03 February 2010 Afghan Agriculture and Security Interrelated, U.S. Officials Say  Obama administration officials describe efforts to revitalize Afghanistan’s agricultural sector as the “Number 1 nonsecurity priority” in the country. But given that Afghanistan is 80 percent agricultural, they acknowledge that security and agriculture are “integrally related,” as farmers replace opium poppies with legitimate crops, and increased profitability and job creation act as a counterincentive to joining the Taliban.

02 February 2010 U.S. Plan Would Help Afghan Women Build Better Lives  Empowering women is critical to improving life in Afghanistan, and the Obama administration has unveiled a plan to do just that. The Women’s Action Plan for Afghanistan outlined by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the London Conference on Afghanistan on January 28 seeks to increase Afghan women’s security, leadership in the public and private sectors, access to judicial institutions, education and health services, and ability to take advantage of economic opportunities, especially in the agricultural sector.

28 January 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview With Jill Dougherty of CNN

28 January 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the International Conference on Afghanistan

28 January 2010 State Department Daily Press Briefing  Includes announcement of appointments of Staffan de Mistura as new UN representative for Afghanistan and Ambassador Sedwill as NATO special representative for international coordination for Afghanistan (2nd paragraph of transcript).

27 January 2010 Secretary Clinton Remarks With British Foreign Secretary David Miliband And Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Abdullah al-Qirbi

27 January 2010 AUDIO: Post-Meeting press conference with David Miliband, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Yemeni Foreign Minister Abubakr Al-Qirbi (courtesy of fco.gov.uk)

26 January 2010 U.S., U.K. Share History, Values in Afghanistan  “The United States has no closer ally than the United Kingdom,” Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here yesterday. The two nations have a special relationship based on history, shared values and a shared future, he said during a speech before the House of Commons All-Party Parliamentary Group on Transatlantic and International Security.

25 January 2010 London Conference to Discuss Rehabilitation of Taliban Fighters  Ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s attendance at the January 28 International Conference on Afghanistan in London, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke says 2010 will be a “year of heavy implementation” of the Obama administration’s strategy in Afghanistan, and the conference will include support for Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s plans to reintegrate Taliban fighters into the country.

12 January 2010 Afghan Poll Shows Increasing Optimism, Opposition to Taliban  A new survey of public opinion in Afghanistan indicates that most Afghans are now optimistic about their future and the leadership of President Hamid Karzai. The poll, sponsored by American, British and German broadcasters, says 70 percent of Afghans believe the country is headed in the right direction. Last year, just 40 percent of those polled reported a similar optimistic outlook.

12 January 2010 U.S. Agriculture Secretary Announces $20 Million for Afghanistan  Recognizing the urgent need to create jobs in Afghanistan’s agricultural sector to boost food production and draw insurgents off the battlefield, the United States announced January 12 a $20 million plan to support Afghanistan’s agricultural economy.

08 January 2010 Agriculture is Top U.S. Nonsecurity Focus in Afghanistan  The Obama administration is coordinating assistance to the Afghan agricultural sector as a means of providing greater security in the country and income opportunities for Afghan farmers, and is doing so in cooperation with the Afghan government’s agricultural framework. Speaking at the State Department, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the approach will result in “stabilizing the country, making opportunities outside of illicit activity more meaningful and of greater availability.”

01 January 2010 Clinton on Terrorist Attack in Pakistan  United States strongly condemns attack, offers condolences.

23 December 2009 Afghan Mission to Focus on Protecting People, Roads, Development  NATO’s top official has finished a two-day visit to Afghanistan, where he pledged that international forces are committed to staying in the country until the Afghan government and military are ready to take over.

08 December 2009 Refined Afghanistan Plan Will Lead to Success, U.S. Officials Say  The next 18 months in Afghanistan will be decisive and ultimately lead to success in rolling back the Taliban insurgents, General Stanley McChrystal told a U.S. congressional committee December 8.

07 December 2009 Remarks by Paul Jones Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the American Enterprise Institute  Jones discusses the civilian aspects of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan

04 December 2009 NATO Allies to Send 7,000 More Troops to Afghanistan  Additional military forces, enhanced support for training Afghan security forces, and added civilian assistance will help keep Afghanistan from ever again becoming a terrorist safe haven and reverse the Taliban’s momentum, says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

03 December 2009 New U.S. Afghanistan Strategy Could Help Reintegrate Some Taliban  U.S. officials recognize the challenge of getting some Taliban conscripts to abandon their armed struggle against the Afghan government and international forces, but are anticipating that President Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan will help increase security, improve economic prospects and make it easier for non-ideological Taliban fighters to reintegrate into their communities.

02 December 2009 Civilians to Expand U.S. Commitments to Afghanistan and Pakistan   Even after U.S. forces have left Afghanistan, U.S. civilians will remain to help the country build its democratic institutions and restore its agricultural economy, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, adding that civilian assistance programs are also part of the approach to Pakistan.

02 December 2009 Restoring Security in Afghanistan and Pakistan Is the U.S. Goal   stable security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan that is sustainable by their governments over the long term is vital to U.S. national security interests and to the world, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says. “Failure in Afghanistan would mean a Taliban takeover of much, if not most, of the country and likely a renewed civil war,” Gates told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in prepared testimony.

02 December 2009 Obama Strategy Offers Best Chance for Success, Gates Says  President Barack Obama’s decision on the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy offers the best possibility to decisively change the momentum in Afghanistan and fundamentally alter the strategic equation in Pakistan and Central Asia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Armed Service Committee.

01 December 2009 Troop Surge Will Allow Afghans to Assume Security Responsibility  The United States will send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan to “seize the initiative” from violent extremists and responsibly transfer the country’s security to Afghan forces beginning in July 2011. In addition, President Obama said the United States will reinforce Afghan civil and economic development, and support Pakistan’s efforts to achieve security and enhance development.

01 December 2009 The New Way Forward  Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
 • Fact Sheet : The Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan
 •  Watch the President's Address (links to White House)

30 November 2009 Obama Addresses Afghanistan Strategy December 1st  President Obama will lay out his strategy for Afghanistan in a speech from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, according to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs. After meeting with his closest national security advisers nine times since July, the president will announce his plans for sending additional forces to Afghanistan, announce plans for enhanced training for the Afghan army and national police force, and make clear that this is not an indefinite commitment, according to White House officials over the past several weeks.

24 November 2009 Obama Provides Glimpse of Afghanistan Strategy  President Barack Obama said today he will announce his decision on the strategy and troop request for Afghanistan “shortly after Thanksgiving.” During a news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Obama said the strategy review he and his national security team performed was extremely useful, and he provided a glimpse at the conclusions.

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton's Trip to Afghanistan

18 November 2009 Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton's Trip to Afghanistan 
Secretary Clinton will travel to Afghanistan to attend President Karzai’s November 19 inauguration ceremony, meet with Afghanistan’s leadership, international partners and allies, US troops, staff in Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and Embassy staff. This is the Secretary's fourth trip to Afghanistan, first as Secretary of State.

18 November 2009 Briefing by Secretary Clinton En Route Kabul, Afghanistan

18 November 2009 Clinton’s Remarks at the Meet and Greet with Employees in Kabul  U.S. seeks strong partnership with the government and people of Afghanistan.

16 November 2009 Clinton: Karzai Must Do More to Fight Corruption to Get Aid  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai must do more to crack down on corruption if he wants continued civilian aid from Washington. In an interview with U.S. network ABC broadcast Sunday, Clinton said the Obama administration wants the Afghan government to establish a major crimes tribunal and an anti-corruption commission.

15 November 2009 Future U.S.-Afghan Relations  Secretary Clinton Interview With George Stephanopoulos of ABC's This Week.

09 November 2009 U.S., Germany Call for Greater Accountability in Afghanistan  Washington — The United States and Germany called on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to implement measures to deliver services for the people of Afghanistan, root out corruption, and increase accountability and openness in the way the government works. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said at a press conference with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin that the allies have been very clear with the Afghan government that they are expecting more in good governance, and will develop benchmarks for the government to meet.

02 November 2009 Obama Congratulates Afghan President and Urges Internal Reforms President Obama has congratulated Afghan President Hamid Karzai on winning re-election but also called for a “new chapter” to improve Afghan governance and end corruption. Obama also cited a need to increase the ability of Afghan forces to provide security for their own country.

Secretary Clinton: Travel to Pakistan, the Middle East, and Morocco

Secretary Clinton will travel to Marrakesh, Morocco from November 2-3, 2009 to participate in the 6th Forum for the Future.

See also:
 • Secretary Clinton: Travel to Pakistan (State.gov website)
 • Follow the Secretary on DipNote, the State Department's official blog  

01 November 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks on the Afghanistan Elections

See also:
 • Secretary Clinton: Travel to Pakistan (State.gov website)
 • Follow the Secretary on DipNote, the State Department's official blog

30 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Concludes 3-Day Visit to Pakistan  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today completed a 3-day visit to Pakistan. In her meetings and public events in both Islamabad and Lahore, Secretary Clinton underscored America’s desire to build a broad and deep partnership with Pakistan based on mutual trust and respect that both combats violent extremists and strengthens Pakistan’s democratically elected government and civilian institutions to serve Pakistan’s people.

30 October 2009 Clinton Calls for Strengthened Partnership with Pakistan  The United States seeks to be a partner with Pakistan in economic development and trade, education, health care, energy development and regional security, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. Clinton, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Pakistan October 30, told business leaders at a roundtable discussion in Lahore that the United States is proud and pleased to be Pakistan’s largest trading partner and its largest foreign investor. “We have seen the opportunities for investment and growth,” she added.

30 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's "Townterview" with Prominent Women Journalists in Islamabad, Pakistan

29 October 2009 Clinton Announces Millions in Assistance for Pakistani People  As part of her first visit to Pakistan as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton announced millions of dollars in U.S. assistance to benefit a variety of the country’s programs and institutions, ranging from humanitarian, education and security assistance to microloans and a cellular-phone social network.

29 October 2009 Town Hall with Secretary Clinton at Government College University

29 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Travel to the Middle East

28 October 2009 United States Provides $45 Million for Higher Education Commission

28 October 2009 United States Stands with Pakistan Against Violent Extremism

28 October 2009 U.S. Pledges $56 Million for Assistance to Displaced Pakistanis  Funds to support Government of Pakistan’s humanitarian relief efforts.

28 October 2009 Note on U.S. Aid for Pakistan Law Enforcement, Border Security  U.S. provides $103.5 million in support for law enforcement programs.

28 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks With Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi

27 October 2009 On-The-Record Briefing by Secretary Clinton En Route Islamabad, Pakistan

26 October 2009 United States to Triple Number of Civilian Experts in Afghanistan The Obama administration has nearly doubled the number of U.S. civilian experts working in Afghanistan since assuming office and plans to bring the number up to 974 by the end of 2009, according to Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew.

23 October 2009 NATO Looks at Boosting Afghanistan Support, Defense’s Gates Says  Defense Secretary Robert Gates said NATO allies are considering sending more military forces and civilian aid to Afghanistan as President Obama also is considering what course the United States will take there. Gates attended an informal meeting of NATO defense ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 22–23, and Afghanistan was a featured topic on the ministers’ agenda.

20 October 2009 Obama Lauds Afghan President’s Participation in Runoff Vote  Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s agreement to participate in a runoff vote for his country’s presidential election is "an important step forward" toward ensuring a credible electoral process and it strengthens Afghanistan’s democracy, President Obama says. Obama issued a statement October 20 welcoming Karzai’s decision, which came after the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan determined that the incumbent president had received a majority of votes from the August 20 election, but at 49.67 percent had come just short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff vote. The second round voting has been scheduled for November 7.

19 October 2009 Secretary Clinton Remarks to the Press  Comments on Afghanistan and Iraq.

19 October 2009 Strategy Review Will Continue to Move Forward, Gates Says>  Questions about the legitimacy of Afghanistan’s national elections are a complicating factor, but President Barack Obama’s strategic review doesn’t hinge on the outcome, and ongoing military operations aren’t being affected, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. The Afghan election issue has “complicated the situation for us,” Gates said, but he said he doesn’t expect it to delay Obama’s decision on the larger issue of charting the way forward in Afghanistan.

07 October 2009 Obama Examining a Range of Strategies for Afghanistan  President Obama and his national security team are examining a range of strategies for achieving long-term security in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a recent televised interview.

02 October 2009 In Building Schools for Girls, Mountaineer Honors Sister's Memory  Mountain climber turned humanitarian Greg Mortenson says his work of the past decade building schools in remote villages across Pakistan and Afghanistan has taught him one overriding lesson: Westerners can "drop bombs, build roads or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated, a society won’t change."

01 October 2009 Statement on Afghan Legal Professionals Who Will Study in U.S.  The Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan are sponsoring three Afghan legal professionals to complete Master of Laws degrees at Harvard University and Washington and Lee University this fall. Georgetown University also played a role, waiving tuition for one of the students to attend their pre-LL.M. preparatory course last summer.

01 October 2009 Obama Facing Critical Decisions in Afghanistan, Pakistan  President Obama met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on September 30 to evaluate the progress that has been made and the challenges that lie ahead in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Among the challenges are recent U.S. public-opinion polling numbers that show declining support for continued U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.

29 September 2009 Obama, Rasmussen Consult on Afghanistan Strategy  President Obama and new NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen agreed at a White House meeting that the important thing to do in Afghanistan is first determine the best strategic approach, and then develop the resources to support it. "The first thing is not numbers. It is to find and fine-tune the right approach to implement the strategy already laid down, and all NATO allies are right now looking at [Army General Stanley] McChrystal’s review," said Rasmussen at a brief press conference.

17 September 2009 Statement on Afghanistan Bombing  United States strongly condemns attack in Afghanistan.

16 September 2009 Decision on U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan Awaits Assessments  President Obama says he is not going to decide whether to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan until assessments are completed of the situation in that country after its August presidential and provincial council elections. Speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the White House, Obama said that along with looking at the situation in the country from a military standpoint, "it’s important that we also do an assessment on the civilian side, the diplomatic side, [and] the development side," as well as "analyze the results of the election" before making new policy decisions.

09 September 2009 Patience Urged as Afghan Fraud Claims Are Investigated  The State Department spokesman says allegations of fraud in Afghanistan’s August 20 presidential and provincial council elections need "a rigorous vetting," and he urged Afghan voters and political leaders to show patience as their country’s independent election institutions deal with the fraud complaints.

04 September 2009 Obama Is Evaluating New Afghanistan Assessment  Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the nation’s senior military leadership are preparing evaluations of a new assessment of the situation in Afghanistan, and the way ahead, for President Obama’s consideration. At a Pentagon press briefing Gates said any request for additional troops and resources for Afghanistan would follow after discussions with the president’s national security team, which includes military leaders, presidential security advisers, key Cabinet officers and Vice President Biden.

02 September 2009 Special Representative Holbrooke on the Afghanistan Elections  Says Holbrooke "We have no candidates and no preference as to whether there is a first-round victory or a runoff. That is for the process to determine. Our advocacy is for a fair process overseen by the Independent Election Commission"

31 August 2009 McChrystal Delivers Assessment to U.S., NATO Leaders  The commander of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan has completed his assessment of the situation there and has forwarded it to NATO and U.S. leaders, Defense Department officials said today. Speaking to reporters during a visit to a Lockheed-Martin F-35 plant in Fort Worth, Texas, today, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he has not yet seen Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal’s assessment, but expects to read it in the next day or two.

24 August 2009 U.S. Military Official Says Afghanistan Still Vulnerable  Afghanistan is still vulnerable to the threat of insurgents regaining control of the country, and the threat is not going to go away, says Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

21 August 2009 Obama Praises Courage and Dignity of Afghan Voters  While results are not yet known in Afghanistan’s presidential and provincial council elections, President Obama says the vote was “an important step forward” for the Afghan people in taking control of their country’s future in the face of threats from violent extremists.

20 August 2009 Obama Pledges Increased Pressure in Afghanistan  President Barack Obama pledged today to keep ramping up pressure on insurgents in Afghanistan, citing developments aimed at “squeezing them from both sides” to ultimately “flush them out.”

18 August 2009 Security Forces Working to Assure Afghans of Election Safety  The general charged with coordinating the contributions to security for Afghanistan’s August 20 national elections by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says the biggest question facing the country is whether its people have the confidence and the will to participate in the democratic process in the face of threats from violent extremists.

17 August 2009 Afghan War ‘Fundamental’ to U.S. Defense, Obama Tells VFW  Terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, are plotting to do so again, so defeating them is “fundamental to the defense of our people,” President Barack Obama told veterans at the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix.

14 August 2009 Afghan Elections Essential Step in Defeating Taliban Insurgents  The Afghanistan national elections scheduled for August 20 are essential to give legitimacy to the government and are critical for defeating the Taliban, who are struggling to regain a foothold as millions of Afghans register to vote in advance of the elections, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says.

13 August 2009 New Afghan Assessment Will Not Address Additional U.S. Forces  Defense Secretary Robert Gates says a new assessment of the military situation in Afghanistan will not contain specific recommendations for additional ground forces from the U.S. and NATO commander, Army General Stanley McChrystal.

11 August 2009 U.S., Afghan Engineers Join Together to Build Roads  In 2007, two engineers — Abdul Hadi Rakin of the U.S.-based Society of Afghan Engineers and Michael Goode of the American Society of Civil Engineers — travelled to Afghanistan to assess the country's infrastructure and develop a proposal for engineer training at Kabul University. They found that, despite roads and power systems that had suffered from neglect during years of war, a number of Afghan engineering and construction companies were already working to restore the infrastructure.

10 August 2009 Afghan Transit Agreement Means Closer U.S.-Russia Cooperation  The recent accord allowing the transport of U.S. troops and combat materials through Russian air space en route to Afghanistan not only will speed deployments and cut costs, but also set the stage for expanded cooperation in other security areas, say top U.S. defense officials.

06 August 2009 Afghans Taking Lead on Election Security, Fighting Violations  Afghanistan's elections for its next president and the members of its provincial councils will be the country's first "truly contested" vote, says a U.S. official who is working with Afghan election officials to ensure that the vote will be inclusive, secure and credible.

29 July 2009 Clinton: Early Afghan Field Reports Are Encouraging   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said resolution of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan is to be found in a comprehensive military, political and economic strategy.

29 July 2009 U.S. Scraps Afghan Crop Eradication in Favor of Interdiction   The Obama administration’s decision to eliminate poppy eradication in Afghanistan in favor of increasing drug interdiction efforts and assistance to Afghan farmers is beginning to show results, according to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.
 •  Special Briefing By Special Representative Richard Holbrooke on Trip to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Brussels

28 July 2009 Women Indispensable to Elections, Democratization in Afghanistan  "Women are an indispensable component to democracy in Afghanistan," serving important roles as candidates and voters in the nation's August 20 elections, says Vasu Mohan, deputy director for the Europe and Asia program of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that runs projects on democracy in 30 countries. An election is not just an event, Mohan explained, but "the seed of long-term democratic behavior. When women are politically involved, they reinforce this behavior because of their influence within the family and in larger society."

01 July 2009 Ambassador Urges Robust Afghan Debate on Women's Issues  As campaigning for Afghanistan’s August 20 presidential and provincial elections moves forward, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues urges a credible, inclusive and secure campaign for all candidates and a vigorous debate on issues of concern to their female constituents.

10 June 2009 Envoy Holbrooke Briefs on Recent Trip to Pakistan, Gulf States  Highlights current situation, emphasizes internally displaced persons.

19 May 2009 Humanitarian Aid to Pakistan  “the people of the United States are responding to a request for assistance from the Government of Pakistan with more than $100 million in humanitarian support”.

11 May 2009 Statement on New U.S. Military Leadership in Afghanistan  Change is part of new policy direction, not criticism of General McKiernan.

11 May 2009 Press Conference with Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen on Leadership Changes in Afghanistan From the Pentagon

07 May 2009 Recognition Grows of Pakistan, Afghanistan as Regional Problem  The Obama administration's review of U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan has led to wider recognition that the security challenges posed by the Taliban and al-Qaida are a regional problem and require a common front, President Obama's national security advisor told reporters.

06 May 2009 “Unprecedented Cooperation” in Pakistan, Afghanistan Talks  Meetings involving Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari with President Obama and other officials of the United States in Washington have “advanced unprecedented cooperation” between the two South Asian nations, Obama said, to the benefit of all three countries.
 • Remarks by the President after the Trilateral Meeting
 • Briefing by National Security Advisor General James Jones on the President's Meetings with Presidents Karzai and Zardari
 • Briefing by Secretary Clinton & White House Press Secretary

07 May 2009 U.S.-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Consultations II  Remarks by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari

05 May 2009 Obama Seeks Close Coordination with Afghan, Pakistani Leaders  The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan are arriving for meetings with President Obama and other senior U.S. officials to try to develop closer trilateral coordination against terrorism and to address the impact of the global economic crisis in their countries.

05 May 2009 Pakistan’s Security Seen as Vital to U.S. National Security  The hallmarks of U.S. engagement with Pakistan must be constancy and consistency to assure a strong partnership in the fight against Taliban extremists, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says.

04 May 2009 United States Must Do More to Help Pakistan  The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff says he is concerned about the progress the Taliban insurgency has had in Pakistan and believes the United States must do more over the next two years to help the Pakistani government and armed forces succeed in curbing the Taliban.

23 April 2009 Progress in Afghanistan Depends on Progress in Pakistan  Progress in suppressing a revived Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan depends on bringing stability and security to Pakistan, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. Testifying at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Clinton said the Obama administration is "deeply concerned by the increasing insurgency that is destabilizing Pakistan." There have been a series of meetings with the Pakistani government, civilian and military leaders, and Afghan leaders about the threat posed by the extremist Taliban insurgency that is gaining strong footholds in both countries.

21 April 2009 Eager to Learn About the World, Tech Savvy Afghans Turn to Blogs  Tech-savvy Afghans increasingly are turning to blogs for information about their country and the world. They also use blogs as a platform for telling their stories about Afghanistan to the world, says Nasim Fekrat, one of Afghanistan's trailblazing bloggers.

06 April 2009 NATO Renews Commitment to Afghanistan's Future  The 28-nation NATO alliance celebrated its 60th anniversary by pledging renewed resolve in its mission to help Afghanistan root out terrorist safe havens and to balance collective defense with emerging security challenges.

31 March 2009 New Afghan-Pakistan Plan a Comprehensive Strategy, Obama Says  America's new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan is focused on dismantling terrorist networks but will employ a wide array of tactics, from strengthening regional security forces to a renewed focus on diplomacy, development and international cooperation, says President Obama.

30 March 2009 Statement on Afghanistan’s Supreme Court Ruling  United States strongly supports ruling on continuation of Karzai’s term.

27 March 2009 A New Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan   Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
 • Press Briefing on New Strategy for Afghanistan, Pakistan
 • White Paper of the Interagency Policy Group's Report on U.S. Policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan

19 March 2009 Stabilizing Afghanistan Common Challenge for America and Iran  In two conferences in March, American and Iranian diplomats will focus on a shared challenge: making new progress on promoting security and development in Afghanistan and the Pakistan border region.

10 March 2009 NATO Allies Share Vital Interest in Stabilizing Afghanistan  America and its NATO allies share “a vital security interest” in forging a common, comprehensive approach to stabilizing Afghanistan, says Vice President Biden.
 • Remarks by Vice President Biden at NATO Press Conference

09 March 2009 Biden Seeks European Perspectives on Afghan-Pakistan Strategy  Vice President Biden is heading to Brussels to seek advice from America’s allies as the White House formulates a new way forward for international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

26 February 2009 Clinton Remarks at Meeting with Afghan, Pakistani Officials  Officials discuss strategic issues and exchange views

23 February 2009 Allies Agree to Boost Afghanistan Aid   America’s allies remain firmly committed to the international effort to stabilize Afghanistan, says Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as seen in pledges from 20 countries to increase security assistance and development aid.

17 February 2009 Obama Orders First New Troops to Afghanistan  President Obama has ordered 17,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan to stabilize deteriorating security conditions as his administration works with allies and regional partners to formulate a comprehensive recovery strategy for the shattered South Asian nation.
 • Statement by President Obama on Afghanistan

13 February 2009 Top U.S. Commander Considers Road Ahead in Afghanistan  Stabilizing Afghanistan will take an intensified international commitment to securing and serving the Afghan people, says U.S. Army General David Petraeus. "Together with our Afghan partners, we have to work to provide the people security, to give them respect, to gain their support, and to facilitate the provision of basic services," Petraeus told world leaders and top diplomats attending the Munich Conference on Security Policy February 8.

11 February 2009 Analysis: Afghanistan Needs the World's Help  The world cannot afford to abandon the people of Afghanistan, says President Obama, who is calling for an intensified global effort to help its people eliminate terrorist safe havens and rebuild their shattered nation after decades of conflict. During his presidential campaign, Obama identified the stabilization of Afghanistan as a top U.S. foreign policy priority.

January 2009

29 January 2009 Afghanistan Troop Buildup a 'Delicate' Endeavor, Spokesman Says

27 January 2009 Defense Secretary Gates Says Afghanistan Is Significant Challenge  President Obama considers Afghanistan the “greatest military challenge” facing the United States as it works against an aggressive Taliban insurgency to bring peace and security, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.

26 January 2009 Chemical Weapons Destruction Efforts in Afghanistan

23 January 2009 U.S. Sending Agriculture Development Teams to Afghanistan  The U.S. is sending teams of U.S. Army National Guardsmen to Afghanistan to bolster security, but also to enhance the country's farming economy, senior Pentagon officials say. The concept came from the National Guardsmen themselves.

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10 January 2003 Fact Sheet : Rebuilding Afghanistan