The investments in security and development that the international community has made in Afghanistan are yielding dividends, according to U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) Richard Olson.
“With momentous achievements in education, health, the economy, infrastructure, women’s rights, and the most dynamic media landscape in the region, Afghanistan has made unparalleled developmental gains. Its armed forces, too, are stronger and more capable than ever,” said Olson in an appearance at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC yesterday.
Olson’s appearance previewed the United States’ aspirations for the NATO Warsaw Summit in early July where NATO allies and partners will reaffirm financial commitments to support the Afghan National Security Forces, as well as the October Brussels Conference on Afghanistan and its pledges of further development assistance through 2020.
“Warsaw and Brussels will reaffirm the international community’s shared goal to promote the development of a secure, democratic, and increasingly prosperous Afghan state with strong institutions that fulfill the public’s expectations and respond to challenges and crises,” he said. “We can think of this as operation ‘Resolute Commitment.’”
The complete text of Ambassador Olson’s speech is attached or can be found on the U.S. Embassy Kabul web site at
