events 2008

Discussion at the American Center

Afghanistan, Seven Years After

September 11, 2008

The American Center hosted a thematic discussion of Afghanistan between 2001 and the present day.  Panelists invited by Charles University’s Center for Security Policy (CESES) –, in Prague discussed the situation in Afghanistan and foreign involvement there.  Amy Carnie from the US Embassy in Prague, acknowledged the challenges Afghanistan still faces, while also highlighting the progress in the ordinary lives of the Afghan people. 

She noted the US government support of the Afghanistan government’s  “Afghanistan National Development Strategy”  , which emphasizes agriculture and energy in its five-year strategy.  Agriculture enhances food security, employment and alternatives to poppy while energy supports commerce and improves living conditions. 

As one example, Ms. Carnie mentioned that there were only 50 paved roads in Afghanistan during the Taliban’s tenure while there are now approximately 2,700 km.  Since 2001, the Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai´s leadership has made  great strides in its fight against the Taliban and al/Qaeda, establishing infrastructure, securing territory and providing education, health care and training. The improvement in broad swaths of Afghanistan make them hardly recognizable in contrast to what they were in 2001.