The Diplomat
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya, yesterday assured the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, that Spain will remain committed to supporting the country, after the withdrawal of the Spanish military contingent in September.
González Laya phoned the Afghan leader to explain to him personally the announcement made two days ago by the government that it will synchronise the withdrawal of the Spanish military with the United States and the rest of NATO, following Washington’s decision to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan before 11 September.
Spain arrived in Afghanistan in 2002 with 350 soldiers, but has recently been reducing its presence and currently has only 24 soldiers in the country, as well as two interpreters, according to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed yesterday, in a statement, of the telephone conversation held by the head of the department with Ashraf Ghani, who was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the Minister of Urban Development, Mahmood Karzai, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hasina Safi, the Minister of Education, Rangina Hamidi, the President of the Central Bank, Ajmal Hamidi, and the Mayor of Kabul, Daud Sultanzoy.
The communiqué adds that the minister told her interlocutors that the departure will not affect Spain’s “firm” commitment to the Afghan government and people.
Furthermore, according to diplomatic sources, González Laya discussed with Ghani the details of the withdrawal, which Spain wants to be gradual, coordinated and guarantee the security of Afghanistan.
He also made it clear that this does not mean that Spain will reduce its commitment to peace, stability and the future of Afghanistan. In this sense, the communiqué indicates that he has assured him that “Spain will maintain its Embassy in Kabul and will explore the most appropriate means and instruments to intensify cooperation with Afghanistan, with the priority objective of securing the achievements reached after almost 20 years of presence and cooperation with Afghan society”.
The communiqué concludes that “it is essential to guarantee a prosperous future for young people and women, whose voice must be clearly heard in the new phase that is beginning”.
