The United States and Afghanistan Sign Joint Declaration

During a ceremony at the Department of State, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Rangin Dadfar Spanta signed a bilateral declaration reaffirming shared objectives in Afghanistan.

The declaration reaffirms the importance of enhancing long-term security, democracy, and prosperity in Afghanistan. It lays out expectations for strengthening Afghan security forces and for building economic stability, with a view to helping Afghanistan realize its full economic potential as a land bridge between Central and South Asia. The declaration restates both countries’ pledges to advance democratic good governance and the development of civil society based on the rule of law and human rights. It highlights the challenge posed by illegal drugs in both societies and reaffirms both countries’ commitments to a multifaceted drug control strategy.