FEPS International Strategic Network – Comments on the SPD draft policy paper on Afghanistan

Policy Study

In 2009, FEPS greatly increased its engagement with South Asia and more particularly India. At the end of November, this culminated in a conference held in Paris in collaboration with the Jean Jaurès Foundation. This conference drew on perspectives that are of great interest to policy formation in the EU, especially with regard to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East (or West Asia, as our Indian partners describe it). The situation in Afghanistan came in for significant analysis by the security experts on whose input FEPS and FJJ drew. The outcome of that conflict will have long term ramifications for the whole region and has the potential to impact upon relations between Pakistan and India.

As such, it is of vital importance for European policy-makers to take account of the perspectives of actors in South Asia. Thus, following the release of the draft policy paper of the German SPD ”Intensifying civil engagement and economic reconstruction – Strengthening the Afghan security forces: On the future and duration of Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan” by Sigmar Gabriel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, FEPS sent out a call for comments from a small selection of security experts in India. These represent the efforts by FEPS to bring fresh thinking and new perspectives to the formulation of policy in the European Union.

Comments by Indian foreign policy and security experts on the SPD draft policy paper ”Intensifying civil engagement and economic reconstruction – Strengthening the Afghan security forces: On the future and duration of Germany’s engagement in Afghanistan” by Sigmar Gabriel and Frank-Walter Steinmeier