Afghanistan: Building a Free, New Society
“The people of Afghanistan are a world away from the nightmare of the Taliban. Citizens of Afghanistan have adopted a new constitution, guaranteeing free elections and full participation by women. The new Afghan army is becoming a vital force of stability….Businesses are opening, health care centers are being established, and the children of Afghanistan are back in school.”—President George W. Bush
AT A GLANCE
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8.1 million Afghans, 70% of registered voters, voted in October’s presidential election. 40% of voters were women.
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4.8 million children, including 1.6 million girls, enrolled in schools throughout Afghanistan, the largest enrollment in Afghan history.
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40 million textbooks revised to educate youth and spread literacy.
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Trade with Pakistan has almost doubled to $1 billion per year since 2002.
Democracy
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Hamid Karzai, the first democratically elected President in Afghan-istan’s history, was inaugurated on December 7, 2004.
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8.1 million Afghans, 70% of registered voters, voted with pride in the presidential election October 9. 40% of those who voted were women.
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President-elect Karzai received more than 50% of the vote against a field of 17 candidates.
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Afghan Parliamentary and local elections will take place in spring 2005.
Infrastructure
The U.S. and the international community:
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Constructed a road connecting Kabul to Kandahar facilitating economic trade and inter-province travel for at least 1 million people.
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Constructed irrigation systems, dams, and multiple new water wells.
Economic Growth
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Rather than exchanging gunshots with its neighbors, Afghanistan is now exchanging goods. Trade with Pakistan has almost doubled to $1 billion in the past two years, and trade with Iran is robust.
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The U.S. and Afghanistan signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) promoting the economic and regulatory reforms necessary for sustainable growth.
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Afghanistan received $2.4 billion in U.S. assistance in 2004 to help the Afghan people build a foundation for their future.
Education
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4.8 million children, including 1.6 million girls, are enrolled in schools throughout Afghanistan, the largest number in the country’s history. 40 million textbooks have been revised to educate youth and spread literacy.
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The Ministry of Religious Affairs has a nationwide program to educate up to 25,500 religious leaders on children’s issues, including education, health care, nutrition, domestic violence and abuse, and HIV/AIDS.
Health
The U.S. and the international community:
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Vaccinated 4.2 million children against measles and polio, preventing some 20,000 deaths.
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Helped treat 700,000 cases of malaria.
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Trained in excess of 300 health care providers.
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Distributed 5,000 wheelchairs to disabled Afghans
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Support more than 250 clinics serving nearly 5 million Afghans nationwide.
Security and Stability
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As of December 2004, one-third of Afghan Militia Force (AMF) units have been decommissioned: 22,000 Afghan Militia troops have been disarmed, 22,000 have been demobilized, and 20,000 have been reintegrated.
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In excess of 13,000 Afghan National Army soldiers, 28,000 Afghan National police, 700 Border Police, and 200 Highway Police have been trained.
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Aghanistan has developed a national drug control strategy to significantly reduce poppy production.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE • Bureau of Public Affairs
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