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Germany

The following information outlines key elements of Germany’s commitment to the Global War on Terror (GWOT) - with a focus on military involvement in Afghanistan and at the Horn of Africa. Although this page is updated on a regular basis it is not intended to replace current affairs media. Furthermore readers intending to gain more detailed information may wish to refer to sources provided by the German government such as www.bundesregierung.de.
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DEU Contribution to OEF at the Horn of Africa

As decided by the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament) in November 2001 Germany will contribute to the Operation ENDURUNG FREEDOM (OEF) with a relevant set of forces. The mandate allows for the deployment of up to 1400 soldiers. Since February 2002, the German Navy has been amember of Task Force 150 at the Horn of Africa (HOA) with a naval contingent of varying size. Taking over the lead on a rotational basis with other nations, comprised of aircraft, frigates or fast patrols boats, fleet supply ships or tankers according to the situation.
The mission of the German Naval Forces is surveillance as well as protection of Sea Lines of Communications in accordance with a proper set of rules of engagement (ROE). Furthermore, the clandestine traffic in support of the international terrorism should be minimized. Therefore, the German Navy is mandated to conduct compliant boarding of suspicious merchant vessels. In cases in which support of terrorist organisations has been proven, the respective ships or vessels will be diverted to a harbour for further investigation.

DEU Contribution to ISAF
Since December 2001, ISAF has been responsible for helping the Government of Afghanistan to establish security and stability in Kabul and the surrounding areas so that the reconstruction of a sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan may develop properly. Germany has made a significant contribution to this mission from the beginning by troops of its Federal Armed Forces.
This country has been one of the biggest ISAF troop-contributing nations since NATO took operational command in August 2003. Today the German Bundestag mandate permits the deployment of up to 3000 soldiers. For the temporarily provision of Recce Tornados to ISAF, the mandate envisages the additional deployment of up to 500 German Airforce troops.

Support for the Afghan Government beyond Kabul
Germany established two Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) and one smaller Provincial Assistance Team (PAT) under the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They operate in north-east area concentrating on the Kunduz and Feyzabad regions and are being manned by military personnel as well as civilians of various organisations. The teams are led by the Regional Command North in Mazar-e-Sharif, which is headed by Germany. Although the current disposition of the German contribution to ISAF has proven efficient it will not necessarily remain static in the future. E.g. the number and/or manning of PRT/PAT may be adjusted as the situation requires to do so.

Assumption of the Regional Command in northern Afghanistan in Mazar-e-Sharif
As part of the regionalization approach of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, Germany took charge of the Regional Command in northern Afghanistan by 1 June 2006. The headquarters of the Regional Area Commander is based in Mazar-e-Sharif. The Regional Area Commander heads the military components of the PRTs deployed in the northern AOR and will be assisted in the coordination of the civilian efforts by a so-called Civilian Commissioner from the German Foreign Office.

German engagement in Herat
The German Embassy in Kabul had an office in the provincial capital Herat from the end of November 2003 to 2005. Since late 2005, German projects in Herat have been coordinated from Kabul. Herat is one of the most important cities in Afghanistan. It is a major center for business, trade and education as well as Islamic culture and is home to one of the country's leading universities.
Within the framework of the close cooperation among the international community in Afghanistan, which is based on the division of tasks, Italy assumed responsibility for the Herat region in the summer of 2005 by establishing a PRT in this area as well as providing the Regional Commander West. Thus German resources became available for other tasks.
As lead nation for the re-establishment of the police in Afghanistan, Germany continues to provide coordination and advisory assistance in the rebuilding of the police force in Herat. Police reconstruction in Herat is being monitored and supported by the Embassy in Kabul.

Stationing of RECCE Tornado aircraft in Mazar-e-Sharif
On 9 March 2007, the German Bundestag decided to deploy Tornado reconnaissance aircraft to Afghanistan. The task of the German Tornados, which are under direct ISAF command is helping to provide a complete overview of ISAF operations.

Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Kunduz and Feyzabad
In accordance with the PRT-Organization originally developed by the US, Germany established a PRT in Kunduz in November 2003. A second PRT was set up in Feyzabad in early September 2004. The German PRTs have both a civilian (diplomats, police instructors and engineers) and a military component (German armed forces).
Within the framework of the civilian engagement, Germany is supporting reconstruction efforts by state and non-state bodies. The focus of Germany's involvement in the Kunduz and Feyzabad regions is promoting cooperation among local and regional governmental divisions with the central government while strengthening civil-society structures. German police advisers are supporting the rebuilding of the police force in these regions.
The task of the military component is to provide security for ensuring the reconstructional efforts. The German Provisional Assistance Team (PAT) based in Taloquan follows the same aim as the PRTs. However the area of responsibility of such a smaller PAT is geographically reduced compared to that of a PRT. However on a regular basis Germany will revise the local needs for support and may thus change the number and/or sizes of PRT/PAT as required.On the basis of the Bundestag mandate, German soldiers can also be deployed in other regions of the ISAF area of operation if there is an urgent need for the fulfillment of the overall ISAF-mandate – however this support will be limited in duration and scope.

Scope of DEU efforts in Afghanistan

Germany pledged more than 100 million $ per year for reconstruction in the period from 2002 to 2010. It is additionally spending considerable sums on the deployment of Bundeswehr soldiers in Afghanistan.
Germany cancelled a remarkable amount of debts owed by Afghanistan. It is providing a sizeable contribution to the reconstruction initiative of the European Union (EU). Within this priority area, Germany is working with the European Union and the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) on various reconstruction measures – for example, repairing more than 100 kilometres streets in and around Kabul.
In order to provide a quick and environmentally favorable contribution for securing the electricity supply in Kabul, Germany has supported the reconstruction of the hydropower stations at Mahipar and Sarobi.
The Hospital Balkh in Mazar-e-Sharif was supported with almost 2 million $ for reconstruction purposes.
The objective of the project “urban water supply” is to quickly improve the drinking water supply for the population of Afghanistan. Some 2 million people are benefiting from the restoration of drinking water supplies in Kabul. In the provincial capitals of Herat and Kundus, another 450,000 people will have again access to clean drinking water. Another project of German development cooperation with Afghanistan is advising, supporting and educating Afghan officials in matters of reforming the water supply sector and decentralizing as well as strengthening the structures for water supply and sanitation.
In the field of enhancing the development of a stable economy Germany’s engagement is ranging from helping individuals to earn their livelihood to facilitating great scale investments. This includes for example the development of the First Microfinance Bank (FMFB) and the setup of the Afghan Investment Support Agency (AISA). The FMFB is a commercial bank focusing on microfinance; it became operational in May 2004. AISA is a one-stop shop for facilitating investment processes. Operating since November 2003, AISA already has approximately 4000 investors, with an investment volume of about 14 billion US dollars.
The Provincial Development Fund helps to finance the recovery of the infrastructure. Finally it is worthwhile to mention that Germany is involved in three Afghan provinces in the North-East of the country, where basic education is being promoted. The project is intended to improve the training of teachers. In addition, teacher training centers and about 100 schools are to be set up and teachers’ salaries are being paid. The project is also helping to develop and introduce elements of peace studies during the training of the teachers. This priority area is also including the advise for the Ministry of Education and its downstream institutions concerning the educational reform. In result of this initiative not less than 6 million children – the highest amount in Afghanistan history - are attending school.
Germany has also made an important contribution to the stabilisation and political development in Afghanistan by providing organisational support for the two major councils (the emergency loya jirga in June 2002 and the loya jirga that produced the new constitution in December 2003/January 2004), and by ensuring its safe presidential elections in October 2004.
Another focus German has been laid upon the improvement and reforming of the Afghan security sector. Germany’s work involves advising the Afghan Interior Ministry on developing new police capacities and supporting or running specific projects in the field. The specially established German project office in Kabul deals above all with recruiting, training and equipping Afghan police officers, renovating and constructing the necessary premises, as well as coordinating international participation in these activities. Progress has also been made in developing an anti-drug unit, the anti-crime squad, the police health system and the traffic police in Kabul. The stepwise implementation of these plans is coordinated by the Federal Foreign Office in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Currently Germany is supporting 13 different projects on a yearly cost basis of more than 1 million Euros (approx. 1 Billion US-$).

German Liaison Teams
Germany puts emphasis on close-coordination with all other nations operating within the OEF- and ISAF-theatre. Consequently German Liaison Teams have been established within the Coalition Coordination Center of USCENTCOM and USNAVCENTCOM. Overall about 10 servicemen or –women are employed in the German Liaison Teams.

Links:

Fact book: http://www.deutschland.de/home.php?lang=2

MoD: http://www.bmvg.de

MoE: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de